18 Jun 2025
We ask a different figure from the local community to choose 10 questions to answer from a list of 50. This week: Sarah Dyer, programme director at The Pioneer Club.
Were you well behaved at school?
I was… cheeky! I did well academically but definitely had a rebellious streak. I wasn’t perfect—and I think that’s what’s driven me to work in the youth charity sector. Young people need space to be themselves, to be heard, and to be understood.
Which three people, living or dead, would be your ideal dinner party guests?
Jimi Hendrix, Aldous Huxley and Charles Bukowski. It would be chaotic, but fascinating.
Do you play any musical instruments?
I butcher the guitar from time to time!
Where would be your preferred place locally to get married?
We actually had our wedding party at Trestle Arts Base. We wanted to support a local grassroots venue, and it was perfect. I love spaces like that: community-led, creative, and full of heart. It’s the same reason I’m so passionate about The Pioneer Club.
How many pairs of shoes do you own?
Four! One pair each of sandals, boots, shoes and trainers. I just replace them with the same style when they wear out. Very uncreative of me!
What did you want to be when you grew up?
A human rights barrister. But after studying politics, I found myself drawn to roles that tackled systemic inequality more directly—and I ended up in the charity sector, which I love.
Do you speak any foreign languages?
No! My family are from Cyprus, and I really wish I could speak Greek. I’ve tried, but my brain just doesn’t seem to work that way.
If you had a time machine, what year would you choose to visit and why?
1979. The music – rock, soul, punk – and the social movements gaining traction: civil rights, feminism. It was a time of real energy and change.
What was your first job?
Delivering diamonds in Hatton Garden. I’d take them from the workshop to the jewellery shops. I’m not kidding!
How long would you survive a zombie apocalypse?
As an asthmatic, I fear my time would be up pretty soon!
