“Everyone’s changing; I stay the same” – The Corrs (2004).
Backpacking In Bournemouth, England: Staying In The Carrington House Hotel Where I Graduated 16 Years Later
Sentimental journeys are no stranger to my wandering heart or backpack. Neil Finn said it long before I rode my weary soul onto the streets of Bournemouth Town in 1994…my first trip to the iconic seaside town…10 years later I’d be working in a bar there (ironically The Heathlands Hotel bar, the one we slept in, in 1994 – now that was all part of the plan and the fate of Bourney M). By 2004, I’d also be a season ticket at Deany C. Dean Court, Boscombe back of the net. Up The Cherries In All Departments!
“I don’t know what tune that the orchestra played but it went by me sickly and sentimental” – Neil Finn.
Working Wednesdays: Relaxing with Dennis, one of the “regulars” in the Heathlands Hotel Bar in Bournemouth in 2004
Working Wednesdays: I was once the barman in the 3 star Heathlands Hotel in East Cliff, Bournemouth, Dorset, England.
Austin and I at the AFC Bournemouth 2-2 Hartlepool match in 2003
At home in Dean Court watching the mighty Cherries!
But life ain’t a bowl of cherries is it? I was supposed to be a student in my days living in the seaside town. Somewhere in the madness of life, I’d forgotten all that…my life changed forever on 26th February 2003.
Jonny Blair and Bournemouth: “We got a love that ain’t got no name. We got a love between us and it’s like electricity” – Suede.
Bournemouth University
Bournemouth University, 20 Years Later: How My Life Changed Forever On Friday 26th September 2003
My final ever exam in university life was at the Carrington House Hotel In Bournemouth in May 2008. That was it, I was done. That day, I headed there at 8.30 a.m., grabbed a coffee, a final look at my notes and started my last exam at 9.30 a.m. on Tuesday 27th May 2008. That was it. I passed, I graduated in November 2008, and within a year I had left Bournemouth behind to whackpack and work all over the world.
Bournemouth University
My Home: The Media School, Bournemouth University
At Bournemouth University
Graduation from Bournemouth University (2008)
Graduation from Bournemouth University (2008)
Dylan’s Bar – only the sexy girls of course…
Our first flat in Springbourne. Christmas party 2003
I rarely talk about my actual university degree, neither in person, nor down the pub, nor online, nor even do I write about it much in books or blogs. It was a fun and wild time though, a book of its own all that. Some chapters from Bournemouth University did make it into Don’t Look Back In Bangor! So a few photos to reminisce. I’ll be the nurse on the right below. Yeah baby!
Partying at Bournemouth University
Bournemouth University
My best mates in my university days were Lock In Lee, The Famous Millwall Neil, Jody and Austin. We all went our separate ways, later in life. I still see Lee and Neil once a year. Jody less often. Austin is sadly now off the radar.
“Sunny days, where have you gone?” – Travis.
The Lock in at Bournemouth University . The Contestants!
Happy student times at Bournemouth University.
From bronzing the university’s own styled Big Brother in 2004, to being isolated in a jungle (covered in my book The Black Volume), to representing Bournemouth at the National Student TV Awards in Loughborough. Bournemouth was a barmy life…selling ice cream, pouring pints, working on ferries and watching the Cherries…
Alex gets the wrath of my Northern Ireland flag whilst bronzing “The Lock-in” (University Big Brother), Bournemouth in 2004
Representing Bournemouth Nerve Media at the NASTAs in Loughborough University England
There was no going back. The University even whacked me into their magazine and website in 2015 in an article called “100 Countries Later, Jonny’s Story“.
“Damn my education, I can’t find the words to say with all the things caught in my mind” – Noel Gallagher.
Sunday’s Inspiration – My article in Bournemouth University’s Alumni Magazine in 2014.
I received an invite to go back to my old radio studio at Nerve Radio, but none from the University itself. They didn’t really appreciate extroverts or the fact that university at the time was the 7th most important thing in my life after friends, family, job, radio work, AFC Bournemouth (season ticket loyal) and GAWA (Northern Ireland loyal). Close the door on your way out mate…
The Lock-in (University Big Brother), Bournemouth
Still, good times that I don’t often dwell on. Here’s a few (many) of my memories from my 6 to 7 years living on England’s south coast, in sunny sunny Bournemouth!
Meeting Super Fletch while working in the Pavilion Theatre, Bournemouth!
Lads night out
Garreth O’Connor penalty beats Port Vale
Concert time
With the famous Millwall Neil watching Euro 2004
Millwall Barbecue Party
Millwall Neil and I go nuts in London
Refreshers Ball. Claire, Denise, Hannah and Dancing Andy
Shisha night down Camels with Millwall Neil
WIth Lock In Lee, Austin and Millwall Neil – 2004
Jody and I in Winton, 2004
The Vote Jonny campaign
A nuts time in a Big Brother Spoof
PR Girls Night Out. Lovely Clare Tweedy.
Up the Cherries the FFS at Dean Court
Warren Feeney and I before the Peterborough match 2003
North Stand, 2003. Up The Cherries
Dancing Andy and I
Steve, Jonny, Hannah, Claire. My first ever English flatmates and our first ever night out in Bournemouth.
Then in February 2024, I lined up two AFC Bournemouth matches to attend – one was a home match – AFC Bournemouth v. Nottingham Forest. I had actually attended that fixture before home and away in lower divisions, but never in the top flight, so I put that right this time. A week later, I turned up at Craven Cottage in Fulham for the away match.
Millwall Neil and I have a shock return to Bournemouth!
Millwall Neil and I have a shock return to Bournemouth!
AFC Bournemouth 1-1 Nottingham Forest
AFC Bournemouth 1-1 Nottingham Forest
Moon In The Square – Wetherspoons Breakfast!
Wetherspoons Pints pre-AFC Bournemouth 1-1 Nottingham Forest
Fulham Away, February 2024
Millwall Neil randomly had a weekend off and was free so I flew from Poland to Stansted, stayed at his on the Friday night, then we got a train to Bournemouth on the Saturday to surprise our old friends! We were known as the Mystery Guests. Instead of staying with friends or me blagging a free hotel to review, Neil found out that the hotel where we did our exams had a special twin room promotion that weekend, so we booked into the Carrington House Hotel. Wild! Here are a few details of the hotel with photos, it was a real trip down memory lane and another fool circle, one for a future book as I’m still on my This Is The Next Century series, with Aftershot and Starogard Girl so far the only releases from that volume.
Backpacking In Bournemouth: Staying In The Carrington House Hotel Where I Graduated 16 Years Later
Backpacking In Bournemouth: Staying In The Carrington House Hotel Where I Graduated 16 Years Later
Backpacking In Bournemouth: Staying In The Carrington House Hotel Where I Graduated 16 Years Later
Backpacking In Bournemouth: Staying In The Carrington House Hotel Where I Graduated 16 Years Later
Backpacking In Bournemouth: Staying In The Carrington House Hotel Where I Graduated 16 Years Later
Backpacking In Bournemouth: Staying In The Carrington House Hotel Where I Graduated 16 Years Later
Backpacking In Bournemouth: Staying In The Carrington House Hotel Where I Graduated 16 Years Later
Backpacking In Bournemouth: Staying In The Carrington House Hotel Where I Graduated 16 Years Later
Backpacking In Bournemouth: Staying In The Carrington House Hotel Where I Graduated 16 Years Later
Backpacking In Bournemouth: Staying In The Carrington House Hotel Where I Graduated 16 Years Later
Backpacking In Bournemouth: Staying In The Carrington House Hotel Where I Graduated 16 Years Later
Backpacking In Bournemouth: Staying In The Carrington House Hotel Where I Graduated 16 Years Later
Backpacking In Bournemouth: Staying In The Carrington House Hotel Where I Graduated 16 Years Later
Backpacking In Bournemouth: Staying In The Carrington House Hotel Where I Graduated 16 Years Later
Backpacking In Bournemouth: Staying In The Carrington House Hotel Where I Graduated 16 Years Later
Backpacking In Bournemouth: Staying In The Carrington House Hotel Where I Graduated 16 Years Later
Backpacking In Bournemouth: Staying In The Carrington House Hotel Where I Graduated 16 Years Later
Backpacking In Bournemouth: Staying In The Carrington House Hotel Where I Graduated 16 Years Later
Backpacking In Bournemouth: Staying In The Carrington House Hotel Where I Graduated 16 Years Later
Backpacking In Bournemouth: Staying In The Carrington House Hotel Where I Graduated 16 Years Later
Backpacking In Bournemouth: Staying In The Carrington House Hotel Where I Graduated 16 Years Later
Backpacking In Bournemouth: Staying In The Carrington House Hotel Where I Graduated 16 Years Later
Backpacking In Bournemouth: Staying In The Carrington House Hotel Where I Graduated 16 Years Later
Here are the details for booking a room at the Carrington House Hotel in Bournemouth: