Mining manager returns to talk to school’s pupils
THE plant manager at the world’s second largest platinum mining company returned to his home town to talk to students in Macclesfield about his profession.
During his time with sixth form pupils from King’s School, Dr Ian Bratt, who grew up on Marlborough Close, Tytherington, also spoke about ‘what I learned and what I did not learn at school.’
Ian’s parents still live at the house he grew up in, and during his time living in Macclesfield the mining professional attended King’s from 1965 to 1972
After graduating from the school he then went to Cambridge to study Natural Sciences, and subsequently studied for a doctorate in Chemistry.
He emigrated to South Africa in 1981 and as well as becoming part of the senior management team for miners Impala Platinum, he founded the South African Orienteering Association, representing South Africa at orienteering in 1983 and later managed their national team.
Ian said: “I started running at the King’s School, coming last in a cross country race, but I wasn’t going to let that defeat me and now I can say I have competed on the international stage.
“I have also run 67 standard marathons and 38 ultra marathons.
“The most important lesson I have learned is that you must work hard and persevere.
“This was definitely drilled into me at school but as you go through your career you learn more and more skills and an important lesson is to never let anyone tell you that you can’t do something.
“I now manage many hundreds of workers and one thing you have to learn is how to make decisions and not be afraid to back your judgement.”
Ian was talking to students as part of a continuing programme of former pupils retelling their own school lives and advising current students about their forthcoming all-important choices.
Ruth Roberts, principal of King’s Sixth Form, said: “Dr Bratt has enjoyed great success in both his career and his personal pursuits and is a clearly a hugely talented individual from whom today’s young men and women can learn much.”