Mobile Photography Intimate Interview with Ken Matthews from Moray, Scotland, UK

My first real childhood ambition was to become a film cameraman. My mother’s cousin worked for the BBC and I’d been to see him a number of times at the studios in Glasgow. When I was old enough, I applied to take an apprenticeship but just at that moment, they announced that they were closing the apprenticeship scheme. My ambition seemed crushed before it started. I never did become a cameraman although my love of photography has never left me.

I’ve played music since early childhood. Aged twelve, along with two friends we formed a band and played local community events. Music was to become a passport throughout my life. It led to opportunities to play Celtic music across Europe when I left secondary school. Our first gig in Germany was a hugely exciting playing for a Scottish Country Dance society. However, when we arrived at the venue, it was the Freiburg Institute for the Deaf!!

My first serious job was as a tour guide at a whisky distillery visitors centre showing folk around and explaining how the whisky was made. My love and appreciation of a wee dram was formed in those years. I’m still in love!

State school all the way. 

I studied computer programming and systems analysis initially but by the end of the diploma, I knew that I was interested in people and not coding. Helping people to realise a solution to the problem they were trying to solve was way more interesting than writing line after line of code. I then moved on to study youth and community work eventually taking up an apprenticeship with a regional council. Learning on the job is an exceptionally powerful way to develop skills. I’ve worked with people ever since.

The most inspirational person in my early years was my Scout Leader. He developed in me a keen love of the outdoors something that has remained with me throughout my life. I joined the Scouts when I was eight years old and am still a member. I’ve been a leader myself for twenty years. 

I run marathons so would consider myself reasonably fit. I took up running at the age of forty (yup midlife crisis!). My father died aged fifty one when I was only nineteen. I was determined not to see our two daughters experiences the same thing so I started to exercise seriously. I ran my first marathon aged fifty and have run two a year ever since (I’m now fifty five). 

That’s a tricky one. In general I think you need both but of course it depends on your definition of success! 

I’m hugely committed to the politics of fairness and justice. I have been a member of a trade union for nearly thirty years and have worked as a trade union officer for the last fifteen. I’m extremely disturbed by the growth of hate and manipulation of truth that is prevalent in politics right now. I’m hugely against Brexit and an absolute advocate of Scottish independence.

I think I’ve reached that stage in life when I don’t really need or want anything really. Having my family around me, good health and watching my two daughters grow is everything I want.

Probably coffee. I love coffee and good coffee at that. I love seeking out good coffee shops where ever I go.

We have a family Bothy on the shores of Loch Torridon in the Highlands. My mother’s cousin (as in BBC above) and his wife rebuilt an old one roomed building forty years ago. It is a magical place, off grid, water from the stream, stunning scenery and best of all, little by way of mobile signal and certainly no WiFi! 

My wife and I are looking to retire in five years time and we’d love to do some travelling. I was also passed in a recent marathon by an octogenarian at mile 19. If I can still run at that age, I’ll be delighted!

My Scout leader told me “you can do nothing about growing old, but nobody said you had to grow up!” I hold on to that!

Without a doubt this has to be bringing two wonderful daughters into the world with my wife. That and managing to keep up with the octogenarian in my last marathon…..

People who are judgemental and selfish.

I’d probably be shocked at how grey my hair has gotten! I’d also be fairly happy that I haven’t grown up too much!

Probably the guitar my father bought me when I was nine years old. I played that guitar for years and although I got another one in my late teens, I still played my original one all the time. I knew someone who wanted to learn but had little money so I leant him that guitar. I never got it back!

I think trying to reclaim some truth and honesty in our politics, and being serious about our environment for our children’s sake. We’re being pretty poor custodians at present.

Not really. I do believe however that the good we do during our lives will live on in our children, in the people we meet and we can all leave a legacy in some shape or form.