The
Interview
Sim
Sparkes was born in Sheffield in 1964. The son of the vicar of Christ
Church he lived with his brothers and sisters in the vicarage on
Pitsmoor Road. He went to Pye Bank Junior and Infants School and
then moved on to Herries Road. On leaving school he moved to Oxford
to study and train as a teacher. He has been teaching for 16 years
and works at a Primary school in Rotherham.
Of growing up
in Pitsmoor he says, ‘I remember not being allowed out that
much, people used to come play at our house, people wanted to come
because it had a big garden.'
'I don’t
think much about poverty or it being a disadvantaged area. The area
was different, things are changing again - it’s just the last
fifteen - twenty years - things have declined, but recently there
are signs of improvement and investment. I don’t go drinking
round in the pubs - sometimes I don’t really feel part of
this community. I hate it when people ask you where you live and
they say, ‘What do you want to live round there for?’
You think, ‘What’s wrong with the area? I’m happy
living here’. He now lives in Pitsmoor with his wife Tracey
and their three children.
What
is your idea of happiness?
Time with my family and a big win for Sheffield United.
What
do you dislike about yourself?
Moodiness that’s one thing. Size of my nose. Sometimes being
too open. I say what I think all the time, sometimes I just wish
I could shut up.
What
makes you sad?
Seeing things on telly, things you can’t do anything about.
People suffering – especially kids.
What
is your earliest memory?
Ripping my toenail on the slide at school, loads of blood came out.
I remember other things but I’m not sure if it’s just
what Mum told us. I remember the moon landing. I remember being
at school and watching it - could have been recorded highlights,
but I remember that.
What
or who is the greatest love of your life?
In what order? Got to say Tracey and the children; Cara, and twins
Rhona and Theo. And Sheffield United, but make sure you get it in
the right order.
Which
words or phrases do you most overuse?
Right. I say, ‘right’, a lot. Right, I hear myself saying
it and thinking, ‘Shut up’.
What
is your greatest regret?
My Mother not seeing any of the grandchildren, she died about six
months before the first one was born. Not playing more sport. I’m
38 - I wish I’d kept fit.
How
do you relax?
Football; playing football - watching football. Playing my guitar.
What
single thing would improve the quality of your life?
Less paperwork, less hassle at work. If I had less time doing things
for work, that would improve the quality of my life.
If you
could change one thing about Burngreave, what would it be?
To have a decent park where you could take the kids. I know Abbeyfield
has improved. When I was a kid, if you walked on the bowling green
you’d get abuse from the old people ‘cause it was kept
perfectly. You could go and play tennis up there, there’s
nowhere for adults to go. Its better than it was, but if you go
to the other side of the city there seems to be better facilities.
It’s not doing them up - it’s maintaining it, keeping
up a level of service.
What
keeps you awake at night?
The twins. Worrying about work. It’s sad but it’s true.
How
would you like to die?
Quietly. Peacefully - without any pain.
How
would you like to be remembered?
Somebody who’s got a good sense of humour and you could have
a laugh with.
What
do you dislike about others?
The way people judge people, that’s what gets to me.
What
is your favorite place?
Oxford - we used to spend five or six week holidays there as kids.
I went to college there so there’s all those memories. My
dad was evacuated there in the war. It’s where he met my Mum.
We used to look after another vicarage. I still go back with Tracey
and the kids.
What
is the most important lesson life has taught you?
Don’t judge a book by its cover.
Which
living person do you most admire?
A bloke called David Smith - he’s our church organist and
used to be the choirmaster. He’s like run youth clubs at church
for last 30 years. He’s got time for everybody and he’s
a top man. He encouraged me to become a teacher. He still plays
football every week at 70 years of age.
What’s
your worst habit?
Clearing phlegm from my throat every morning. (You can’t put
that down that’s disgusting isn’t it?) Got to be done
though, all our family suffers from it.
What’s
your favourite journey?
Coming home from work on a Friday night.
What’s
your favourite fantasy?
Sheffield United beating Wednesday at Wembley.
What’s
your favorite smell?
Curry farts – no, freshly roasted coffee. Tar - it’s
a fantastic smell.
Interview
between Steve Pool
and Sim Sparkes 15th October 2002
Photography: Richard Hanson
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