60 seconds with…Stephen Bailey

Favourite place you have ever visited? 
Sydney, Australia because the natural beauty of the city is quite extraordinary. I have climbed the harbour bridge twice and I love the views caught between the harbour and looking across to the Blue Mountains.  

What is the best piece of advice you have been given? 
To ensure that you maintain a sense of humour in life: something my father told me, that he said his mother always told him. It is good to inherit a piece of familial wisdom and try and have a wry smile (at least on the inside), even in the most difficult of circumstances.    

Ideal restaurant meal option 
Clos Maggiore in Covent Garden – a very special little place. 

What scene in a movie always gives you goosebumps every time you watch it? 
The beginning of ‘Interstellar’, because of the epic combination of dramatic visions of space with the powerful film score. I recently saw the ‘Space’ exhibition at the Natural History Museum with my family, including touching a piece of the moon (!) and it reminded me of the power of this film, to touch upon the deep mystery of the cosmos. 

What do you wish someone taught you a long time ago? 
To recognise that in life, once the tough things are overcome, there will be more ahead, but we never know when. For me, this is an important part of our thinking on resilience. It would be great to feel that we can plateau and then that equilibrium remains, but the reality is that we need to be buoyant and will have quite a lot to ride.   

What book had the most significant impact on you? 
The Gospel of John, as the most poetic articulation of the concept of a God of cosmological significance. Obviously in my teaching arena (Religious Studies/ Philosophy, Theology, Ethics), this is an area of real significance but in this narrative, the concept of Divine Logos (reason) is a very powerful idea. On the less theological side, I have had many powerful encounters with political philosophy. 

Tell us something you are good at that may surprise us 
I used to be a handy footballer. I don’t play much now, but I played to a good level at university. I played four times against the University of Oxford, for the Light Blues (Cambridge) in Varsity matches, but only triumphed in one. I had some great times though, including to travel to play against some of the Ivy League universities in the US and playing at Selhurst Park and Cambridge United.  

What, in your opinion, is the most amazing animal? 
The Kangaroo – back to my Australian theme. An extraordinary creature in so many ways and one that does not seem that well adapted to be highly resilient but really is. I must add of course our pet cat, Lola! 

What TV show are you hooked on or were recently hooked on? 
‘Dopesick’– a very powerful portrayal of the opioid crisis in North America and the attempt to hold Purdue Pharma to account. I really like the themes of legal accountability but also the very real societal scourge that is present in the stories of individuals in the series, which are reflective of huge struggles. 

If you had to lose one of your senses, which would you choose to lose? 
That’s too difficult or sad a question to contemplate! I would rather pass… 

Has there ever been a time when something so amazing or unexpected happened that it literally left you speechless for a time? 
The birth of my children. Each time, these represented a very new chapter and the beginning of new love story with them. But, to meet for the first time and to begin a journey together was most precious.  

What card or board games do you like to play? 
I like quite basic ones, like Connect 4 or other ones that I can play with my children and given there is a different in age, they need to be ones that younger, older and adult can play without too much competition emanating!