A GROUP of Bedale High School students got to meet former pupil, BBC producer Mark Flowers, before the end of the summer term.

Mark has spent the last 30 years making natural history programmes for the BBC, and his first job was working with Sir David Attenborough on The Private Life of Plants. He then travelled the world to rainforests, deserts, mountains and oceans to film everything from elephants to penguins and orchids to oak trees. He has filmed with the Queen, Alan Titchmarsh, Monty Don, and Chris Packham and has built his life around filming the planet's natural wonders.

Mark recalled his time at school singing and dancing in Joseph and His Amazing Technicolour Dreamcoat and Follow the Star, as well as playing the Cowardly Lion in the Wizard of Oz.

He drew parallels with the lion because he had to overcome his worries about leaving home and travelling to far flung, remote places. He talked about having the courage to dream big, to have the commitment to make the dreams happen and the compassion to treat people well on the journey. Mark said he felt very lucky to have grown up in Little Crakehall, a beautiful part of the world and to go to such a supportive school.

Mark used the Covid pandemic as an opportunity when faced with having to abort plans for the 2020 season of Springwatch programmes. His team of 120 were able to use technology to produce the series from bedrooms and kitchens and were rewarded with a BAFTA.

When asked where is the best place he has ever been in the world, he replied Crakehall and the Shawl at Leyburn overlooking Penhill.

He added: "If anyone had told me what I have achieved in my life when I was at Bedale High School, I would never have believed them. It would have seemed an impossible dream. How can a young lad from Crakehall end up working for David Attenborough and then travel the world for his job? Well, if I can, you can, and the school motto of courage, commitment and compassion could not be more true."