Jonathan Laverick grew up in Lilburne Crescent, went to St Mary’s and then The Avenue School. He attended Durham University and played football for them and The North Brit in Aycliffe Village. After completing his studies he got his first job teaching for the Botswana Government.
He has also taught in the Bahamas and Norway, but in between jobs taught Maths and PE at Greenfield and then Maths and Technology at Woodham.
Jonathan is now back in Botswana as Director of a very successful “A Level” centre. This job and advancing age has meant giving up football, but he did finish his career in the Botswana League with a goal at the home of the national team.
Some years ago the Youth Centre were kind enough to donate a kit to Amagents’ Youth Team following an appeal in the Newton News and Northern Echo.
Jonathan always had a passion for aviation which runs in the family as his father was in the RAF. He is currently one flight away from getting his pilot’s licence and takes his flight test early May – the picture shows him after his first solo flight.
He earns extra pocket money painting aeroplanes and during his research heard the story of the murder of two RAF pilots in Botswana in 1943. There were lots of conflicting versions so Jonathan decided it was time to put this right and has written a book which is now published called “The Kalahari Killings” published by The History Press.
Jonathan said: “Although far away it is always nice to keep up with what is happening at home – so a big thank you to the Newton News website!”
