One of Britain’s most experienced journalists inspires next generation

Nigel Dando broke off from his time with national TV and newspaper interviews to inspire John O’ Gaunt student journalists.

Nigel – the older brother of TV journalist Jill Dando who died in 1999 – ran a workshop in Hungerford, Berkshire designed to give students a real life newspaper story writing exercise.

They then had to present the story as if broadcasting to radio and television.

Nigel Dando has just retired after 48 years as a journalist for newspapers and as a radio reporter. This week has been discussing his sister Jill Dando on a national BBC documentary.

Principal Alan Henderson said: “Our students did tremendously. Nigel was able to pass some of his vast experience on to our students.”

Three of JOG’s founding student journalist club members Ciaran Morrison, Alex Nutley and Abigail Cook left the school in the summer to pursue careers in the industry. Ciaran writes match reports for Hungerford Town FC.

JOG is a high-achieving, high ambition school that has lots of creative clubs including journalism, reading, writing and most aspects of literature.