Like so many, 2020 has been quite something for James Hook, who hung up his rugby boots after a 16 year career and 81 Welsh caps to his name.
But it also marked his arrival as an author, and the subject matter has given him the perfect opportunity to see at first hand the amazing contribution of school staff during this year of all years.
And he has thrown his full support behind an Education Consortia initiative to thank headteachers, teachers, teaching assistants and support staff for their sterling efforts across Wales.
“I think they have been fantastic,” said James, who started thinking about the gap in the literary market when he failed to find his eldest son Harrison, now aged 11, a rugby book for children a few years back.
The result was the October publication of Chasing a Rugby Dream: Kick Off, and it gave him and co-author David Brayley a chance to witness the work of school staff via Zoom calls.
Schools have adapted so well
“We haven’t been into schools, obviously, because of the circumstances,” said the former Ospreys star. ”But what we have done is a few Zoom calls with classes which have read the book when they were back in school.
“The other day I had a Zoom call with a school in Cardiff. They did it really well with different break-out rooms for different classes and they had all prepared questions.
“It has been so unsettling for everybody. It has been upsetting for the kids, but obviously the teachers have got to keep them engaged. The trouble with Zoom is that it is difficult to get everyone’s attention, but the teachers have been great.”
He has also got that knowledge as a parent, with his three boys - the other two aged five and three - attending Newton Primary School in Mumbles.
“From personal experience, my eldest boy’s teacher in Newton Primary is fantastic, the way he engages them," said James. "It is challenging enough when you have got them in a classroom, let alone on a Zoom call, so I take my hat off to them all. It is not an easy job, so they have just made the best of a poor situation really.
“I just noticed how hard the teachers work. You can’t sit six hours on a Zoom call, so it is trying to keep them engaged for a certain amount of time and then having the trust in their teaching so the kids get on and do their work.
Everyone has risen to the challenge
“It is difficult because they haven’t been through this before. Speaking from personal experience with my kids, they are enjoying it.
“It has been a challenging task, but it has been so beneficial for my kids, and, hopefully, there won't be too many Zoom calls after this, although there probably will be for a month or so.”
So there are top marks from James for everyone involved in schools across Wales.
“Fair play to them,” he said. “It's not easy for them and they have got their lives to live as well.”
This is the third in a series of 'thank you' videos , featuring children and public figures, so look out for the final one.
