09 Jul 2026
Alban City School is celebrating 14 years of a beloved figure in the school community, site manager David Edwards. Alexandra Assadian, a mother of three at the school, sat down with David to hear more about his life experiences and discover some insights into his role.
For pupils, parents and staff alike, if you ask them one of their favourite things about Alban City School – the state-funded primary school on Hatfield Road in the centre of the city – they’d all likely mention the same thing – Mr Edwards.
He’s at the school gates almost every school day without fail, to welcome everyone in with a smile, bit of chat and a high-five. It starts the day right for so many attendees.
David Edwards has been at Alban City since December 2012, bringing energy and enthusiasm to his role as site manager come rain or shine. Given the school officially opened in September 2012, he’s been a stalwart supporter from its inception.
In fact, he even won a finalist position as a Support Staff Member Award at the Herts Advertiser School Awards in 2015 which was run by our very own Matt Adams, former editor of the newspaper. And in 2022, he won a certificate of excellence for the ‘Unsung Hero’ category of the Pearson National Teaching Awards.
David was born in December 1951 in Enfield and his father was a printer for letter cards, plates, booklets, etc, using letter blocks and old style printing presses. Young David, the eldest of three with two sisters Janet and Valerie, used to go and see him in action and liked the hands-on nature of the role.
David was typically outdoors more than indoors and liked to be very active (this hasn’t changed)! He didn’t mind school but at just 17 years old, he left it behind him and went to farming college in Derbyshire.
After only eight months at college, he ended up on a dairy farm at Chalfont St Giles with one hundred head of cattle that needed milking, morning and evening. It was relentless work with few weekends left to him and plenty of hazardous risks such as barbed wire and electric currents. But despite the hardships, David slogged away for two years there and was happy to be working outdoors and not cooped up.
After that he decided to come back to Enfield – his parents were happy he did. He went into silk screen printing akin to his father’s industry, at Bennett & Starling on Windmill Hill. He enjoyed producing artworks which he did a lot for advertising and magazines such Sainsbury’s. After nearly six years, he moved on to his next printing press company in Palmers Green but around three to four years later, that company was closed down and Mr Edwards was back to the drawing board.
At that stage, he went to work at Eastern Electricity, at the Southgate station. It was an opportunity he was afforded through a friend. Old household meters were fixed with new parts and sent off for testing, then back out into circulation. Mr Edwards became chargehand of the stores and ran what came in, stock-checked and sent it out supplying all of the south east.
Despite it being pressurised at times, he enjoyed the role and with a team of five people underneath him, there were plenty of laughs and a nice camaraderie. Sadly the company closed and the whole company of 120 people was made redundant. But it was during his time there, he met Susan who worked in the office of the electricity board.
After their marriage, Susan and he bought a house in Newport, Essex, near Saffron Walden. It was a beautiful rural place in which to raise their two daughters; Emma and Claire. From here, David started working for the British Sugar Corporation, working on the ‘melters’. It was intensive albeit seasonal work because it depended on sugar beet.
After that, it was a case of going back to Enfield to be closer to their family on both sides. David did another stint in farming, this time on an arable farm. Then he took on all sorts of jobs and mainly operated as a handyman of sorts.
Always entrepreneurial and open to a new venture, he then fell into his next and most enjoyable endeavour – sourcing antiques and bric-a-brac such as oars and signs, for themed pubs! He always had a fascination for old and interesting things, and had good marks in history as he loved the stories behind the subject. From a young age he collected items which he sold on to interested buyers. This job sourcing items to kit out themed pubs (all the rage in the mid-eighties), was right up his street and he loved this time working with a pal to do so. There weren’t enough hours in the day nor memorabilia out there to meet demand for a while. But it was a flash in the pan, no more than 18 months and then the theme trend faded out.
David and Sue moved to Palmers Green in the late 1980s to be with her family. It was a time to hunker down as a family and he carried out small jobs via word of mouth, doing a bit of everything. In the mid-90s, they bought a house in Enfield and David returned to the electric industry wiring cabinets for high users of power supply such as McDonalds and office blocks.
In 2012 he saw the job at Alban City School in the newspaper, just before it opened and thought “that will do me for a couple of years”. He came for the interview with former headteacher, Janet Goddard, after 25 people applied for the caretaker role. After some initial evening work, the full-time role went to him and the rest is history.
The upstairs of the school was still a building site! Initially in the first year, just two classes were in operation so there were only 60 kids in attendance. The first floor upstairs was out of use and many rooms were still being renovated. Gilly Stray took over at the helm in 2018 and now, in 2026, it’s been almost 14 years since David Edwards has been a firm favourite and familiar face of all at Alban City School.
Life is obviously full of trials and tribulations and David is no stranger to his fair share of sadness with people closest to him suffering ill-health over the years, including the sad passing of his late wife Susan. Above all, he feels life has taught him, it is short and for making the most out of it.
He takes on the role of carer for his partner of many years Liz with total dedication and he values having his daughters nearby in Finchley and Welwyn Garden City so he can see them regularly. He’s philosophical about life – the good comes with the bad and there’s nothing you can do about it. On a day to day he’s invigorated by being around the young who are fun and funny. Equally, he’s there for the kids and parents who need it, with a kind word and a smile or fist bump.
David will carry on his hobby for as long as he is able and continue to salvage special items from antique fairs, car boot sales, house clear outs, etc, as long as he can. He’s loved it from a young age, snaring rare treasures of value or interest. His antiques trade relies solely on word of mouth, of those who’ve known him as a man-in-the-know for years and it’s still something he dives into to this day.
Above all, he dreads to think when the school role will need to end. He loves to be part of everything going on and always gets stuck in. You can always rely on Mr Edwards to wear an epic costume for an occasion and raise a smile. He hopes to be there for the children for years to come yet and appreciates that the staff, parents and the pupils all have trust in him. His mantra is that if you’re fair with people, they’ll be fair with you; so just be honest and good things will come to you.
What’s a typical day like for you?
So hard to say, I never know what will happen next! But I’ll try to be at the school gates each morning, no matter what.
You’re clearly very popular with students—why do you think people connect with you?
I think it’s because I try to make every day a happy day and children always have a smile on their faces when they are happy, so it spreads good vibes. Working with young children always gives you so much energy, even on a bad day.
Do you have any memorable moments with students or staff that stand out?
I have many lovely moments. I remember one that comes to mind; a parent came up to me and said that it was my showing her around the school that made up her mind that our school was the one for her child. That it was the best decision she had ever made and would always be thankful to me for that day!
If students remember one thing about you after they leave school, what would you like it to be?
That they feel happy, welcome and safe.
You always get stuck in with school and charity fundraising – what kind of activities have you undertaken/charities have you supported over the years?
Pie in the face for Comic Relief and my famous china smashing stall for Alban City school funds.
How did you get into buying and selling antiques?
It started one day whilst out shopping when I was only about eight years old – there was a shoe mender’s shop and he would put small items in his shop window. I went in one day and bought a few items then sold them on. From that day on, I never looked back and have been buying and selling for many years. It started off as collecting things for myself that sparked my curiosity.
What’s the most interesting or unusual item you’ve ever found?
Only three weeks ago, I found a First World War officer’s compass dated 1917 in very good condition.
Have you ever discovered something unexpectedly valuable?
One day, in an old leaky shed, I saw a picture covered with an old cloth. Upon checking it, I saw it was a painting of a lake in Scotland by a fine arts painter. Despite the terrible state of the shed itself, it was in great condition and sold at an auction for £2,000!
What do you enjoy most about hunting for antiques?
I love that every time, you just never know what you’re going to find – if anything!
What are you most proud of from your time at the school?
To see the school grow and how well all the students have done, and how they have grown into fine, young people.
What has surprised you the most over the last 14 years?
Just how much I have loved the job at the school.
If you could describe your job in three words, what would they be?
A wonderful time.
What’s something about you that students might not know?
I worked as a dairy cattle farmer!
What advice would you give to students about life?
Just be yourself, don’t try to be someone else.
You have two daughters and a wife, what do you think they’d be most proud of with you?
That I’m always there for them.
- All are welcome to come along to the (postponed) Alban City School Summer Fair on Saturday September 26, which is open from 2-4pm. With plenty of games, treats and entertainment, it’s a great afternoon for families of all ages and a perfect way to support the school in their fundraising efforts. And to meet David Edwards himself! See here for details, tickets available on the door.
