Snapshots from Memory

The Autobiography of a Greenock Academy Schoolboy

By: Jo Johnson

Narrated by: Jo Johnson

Author, artist, and retired Deputy Head Jo Johnson was born and brought up in the leafy suburbs of Greenock in the West of Scotland. Educated at Greenock Academy until the age of 14, he experienced a profound culture shock when the family relocated to Kilwinning in Ayrshire where he found himself in a much rougher school environment.

Born into a devoutly Christian family, Jo had to balance the competing demands of "church and state" at an early age. His story is peppered with entertaining, poignant, and occasionally unpleasant memories of growing up in 1960s Greenock and his coming of age in 1970s Ayrshire.

He documents his experiences as an art student at Glasgow School of Art and Duncan of Jordanstone College of Art, Dundee. Later chapters trace his journey to find work with a waxworks company in London, teacher training in Liverpool, and back to Scotland where he taught art before moving into school management. Jo’s faith in God and his connection with the Churches of God is a recurring theme throughout the book.

Listen to find out how Jo responded to a significant and unexpected medical challenge.

©2021 Jo Johnson (P)2022 Jo Johnson