Mike Smears

After graduating from Kent in 1969, Mike Smears spent his career working within the administration of Southampton University. Now retired, his focus is on writing. He has completed a number of novels – the latest of which was published earlier this year.

Tell us about your career path since graduation.            

My activities as a writer for the Kent student newspaper (called Incant at that time) helped me to secure a post at Southampton University in the External Relations department. Ultimately, I remained at Southampton in other sections of the administration, for the remainder of my career.

Now in retirement, I spend my days writing. I have completed a number of novels – the latest of which The Unremembered was published earlier this year.

How did your time at Kent help you achieve your current career?           

It helped a lot. The English tutors were brilliant and helped me so much to explore, understand, and critique language.

This was hugely valuable in my career, which called for clear and concise expression, and of course in my creative writing later.

What advice would you give to our current/prospective students who are looking to get into the same line of work?

Read; read more; and read again.

Facility in language, which is vital in any career, comes from reading.

Did you get involved in any extracurricular activities as a student?        

I wrote for the student newspaper, and was also a member of both the Classics Society and Football Club.

Do you have a favourite memory from your time at Kent?        

There’s no one favourite memory, but I have hundreds of lovely recollections. I wouldn’t have missed it for world.

Are you still in touch with other Kent alumni or academics?

Yes, I’m still in touch with about 20 people I met at Kent. My university experience gave me so much socially as well as academically.

What are your future ambitions?

I want to continue to keep in touch and to continue to write.