Colin J Campbell
Childhood History
Growing up in Scotland, I vividly remember a school trip to Hadrian’s Wall in the North of England. From there on in I couldn’t get enough of history and the Romans in particular. Documentaries, epic movies, books, comics, toys; I soaked up all things historical. When I was invited to a fancy dress party, I made my own hoplite armour and helmet. Yes, I was one of those wee boys, always dressed up as a Roman, a Greek warrior or a knight. I had armies of Napoleonic soldiers and used to have vast battles that lasted days. I designed my own board games, around historical events – like the Persian wars – building the boards from cardboard and writing some pretty complex rules for a kid.
A Meeting With Lenin
Into High School and it emerged I had a talent for Political Studies – winning the School prize in that subject – and balancing my love of the past with an enduring fascination for politics and society. This took me on another defining trip, this time to Soviet Russia, in what turned out to be the last year of the Communist regime. It was a view into a defining time and place in history. Glowered at by red guards with Kalashnikovs outside Lenin’s tomb, I nearly sparked an incident when I innocently suffered pocket failure, tissues and sweet wrapers cascading onto the steps of the regimes most hallowed site. Glasnost visibly wobbled with a snot-nosed Western teenagers not popular that day. Casually visiting the Bolshoi Theatre in Moscow and the Winter Palace in St Petersburg, I observed the workers utopia faltering in the face of the advance outriders of capitalism, as Pepsi, Levis and McDonald’s all prospected in the new frontier lands.
Grand Tours Of The Mind
By my mid teens things were very different. I played a game of rugby whilst suffering from flu and ended up with chronic fatigue as a result. Developing a talent for sleeping – up to 18 hours a day – friends would call, but rarely got to see me. It affected me profoundly as I was not able to engage with school or my peers. What I could do was read and it started me on a journey deep into the ancient classics – from Aristotle to Xenophon, Caesar to Tacitus – deepening my interest in all things ancient and historical. It was the perfect escape from illness. As the emperor Marcus Aurelius wisely observed: “What stands in the way, becomes the way” (Marcus Aurelius, Meditations, V.20.)
Digging Up The Past
As an undergraduate, I initially studied Ancient History and Archeology. Winning a scholarship in my final year, I was invited onto an archaeological survey in Pisidean Antioch, in rural central Turkey. Once again men with Kalashnikovs, stared on, perplexed by the strange westerners who measured ruins during the hottest parts of the day. In an area still reputed to suffer casual banditry, we all hoped – rather than knew – that the guys with guns were friendly. A year later, I had completed postgraduate study (MLitt in Roman History) with the freedom of a research based masters allowing me to combine academic study with my strength for original research, thought and writing. It’s what I still love today, framing my own writing around research and ideas that are original and exciting. As someone who initially struggled to get to university due to illness, my proudest achievement was to attain a distinction (from a good Uni) for my work and ideas.
Creative Travels
Loving writing and visuals naturally led me into blogging and for many years I experimented in bringing these together through my old blog Emperor Colinus. Documenting casual ideas, observations and feelings, it gave me an outlet for journaling thoughts from the light-hearted to the serious. It was also a training ground to develop skills in digital writing, photography, videos and sound. With strong passions for culture and travel I captured images and thoughts of the places I visited. Loving all things Italian, I have been fortunate to travel widely in many parts of that beautiful country, with a clear highlight being a month long honeymoon with my amazing wife Naomi. In 2013 we travelled from Venice to Syracuse – stopping where we fancied and adventuring in many unique and quircky places. Setting up home together, another creative outlet for me emerged in my growing interest for historical architecture. Renovating an old Edwardian, Arts & Crafts period house, I was able to not only research and source authentic materials, but also learn many physical skills in renovation, proving myself to be that great Scottish ideal, a Lad O’ Pairts (i.e. multi-skilled). During that time you could easily have found me traveling the length of the UK for just ‘the right’ Edwardian floorboards, cast-iron radiators, stained-glass windows, fireplace tiles, or plaster ceiling roses.
The Professional Journey
Professionally, I made a career in academic professional services, working nearly 18 years across four universities, in several varied roles. This was where I developed many of my professional skills and knowledge base, working with senior academics and stakeholders across a range of communications, special projects and high-profile events. In the working sphere I developed campus newsletters and gained years of valuable experience, interviewing, writing, photographing and developing content. I also became skilled at written communications through committee facilitation, complex stakeholder relations, correspondence, reports, and complaints resolution. These skills helped me as I also operated as a Co-Director of my wife’s renewable energy company, Foreshore Consultants Ltd, and was proud to assist in developing and writing an industry proposal that was sold commercially in 2019. These experiences and many others have led me to develop the depths of skill needed for Colins Street. You can view details in my CV.
New Shores
In 2019 my wife and I had the fantastic opportunity to move to Melbourne Australia, to explore a project her company was working on. I had visited Melbourne years before and it was an opportunity we jumped at, for the sheer joy of adventure. Giving up my day job at the University, it has provided me with the opportunity to launch Colins Street, embarking upon a new chapter as a Melbourne based writer, researcher and digital content creator.
These days especially, it’s hard for any of us to know what’s around the corner, but at this time I’m very excited to be writing and working creatively. New journeys and new adventures await …
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Take a look at some of my work in the Laneways.
See what I can do for you in the Commercial District.
Or, if you want to commission some work or seek help with a project, then please do Make Contact.
