Today Andrew D Thompson is a Director at Savills UK, the chartered surveyors. A former soldier and Territorial Army volunteer, he is still the Ceremonial Trumpeter for the Veteran Guard of the City of London, the Light Cavalry HAC.
He is a high achiever with a list of qualifications and fellowships as long as your arm. But at school, Andrew was told he was dim-witted. At home, higher education was never discussed. When Andrew applied for university after six years as a Gunner in the Royal Horse Artillery he was told he would be wasting tax payers’ money. “They said it was what officers did and that I had ideas above my station.”
Andrew was dyslexic. “Having ideas that you cannot fully express is so frustrating, as you are trapped within yourself.” It was at the University of Greenwich that Andrew was finally taught what he calls the life skill of dealing with his dyslexia.
“Greenwich changed me as a person. I discovered I wasn’t stupid. The inner peace and confidence that knowledge gave was profound.”
Andrew completed his degree in building surveying and credits it with equipping him to be the senior expert he is today. “It provided a sound technical education in the management, economics and technology of my area of professional practice. The detailed coverage of law has without doubt helped equip me in my field of practice which requires complex understanding of advanced legal concepts.”
“The four years as a student and staff member at Greenwich was simply life-changing.”
“To be given the joy of reading, the discovery that theatre is fun, and that having a wider interest in the arts can enrich your life… the delight I get from these things can be traced back to my time at university.”
