My Sheffield: Dan Walker

It’s been 30 years since Dan Walker first arrived in Sheffield. Here he looks back at those formative years, fondly recalling his student days and the unexpected twists that shaped his path to becoming one of the UK’s most popular broadcasters.

I just fell in love with Sheffield straight away. The people were amazing. I loved how green it was. I loved my course too. It all just felt like a very comfortable fit from day one really. On my first day in 1995 I was thrown together with a guy called Ed in one of the shared rooms in Earnshaw Hall. We became great friends. In fact I was best man at his wedding and we get together for a reunion each year with a load of other uni mates. I’m still living the Sheffield dream many years on.

I’m pretty sure I spent more time on the Goodwin pitches than in lectures. I was on the University football team and trained there whenever I had the chance. Receiving a golden ‘Balti King’ t-shirt for winning the intramural league was quite the accolade.

The Students’ Union was a big part of uni for me. I was part of the Christian Union, and helped set up the University’s first radio station, Sure Radio, as it was then. My mate Helen Grimes – who still works in radio – was the mastermind behind it all. I had an afternoon sports show with another friend which was great fun. Unknowingly, it formed the building blocks of where I am today.

After my undergrad, I’d always intended to go into teaching and applied to do a PGCE.
Let’s just say the interview didn’t go to plan… I was rejected for being too immature apparently. But that knock-back led me to do a journalism Masters, which then led to my first job at Hallam FM and things took off from there. Although I secretly still think I’d have made a good teacher.

It would be wonderful to go back and spend one last day as a student. First stop would have to be the astroturf at Goodwin for a kickabout. Lunch would be a ridiculous sandwich from Scott’s Pantry on Glossop Road. Love that place. Then I’d go back to the old History department on Clarkehouse Road – it’s not there any more sadly – before heading to Bar One for a pizza. I’d round off the day with a football team social at Pop Tarts for old time’s sake – although I’d probably only last about 20 minutes there nowadays. 

After a stint living in London, I moved back to Sheffield with my family 10 years ago.
It’s been a great place to raise our kids. I love walking in Endcliffe Park and the Botanical Gardens with my dog, Winnie. The Crucible theatre is amazing. But Hallamshire Golf Club is where I go to switch off for a few hours without my phone. It’s very much my escape place. 

As much as I love it, Sheffield frustrates me too. Compared to other northern cities like Manchester and Leeds, it just doesn’t beat its own drum enough. Being home to the first ever football club, Sheffield FC, there’s such a rich sporting history here. Why aren’t we celebrating that and telling people across the UK and the world about it? The National Football Museum could be here but it’s not.  And where else could you go from vibrant cafes and restaurants to the scenery of the Peak District within minutes? Sheffield is brilliant, but we just need more people to realise it I think.

My career has allowed me to do some amazing things. Thinking about all the conversations I’ve had with incredible people and the different countries I’ve travelled to – I often pinch myself. Strictly Come Dancing comes to mind in particular; managing three months with no dance background was quite something. It was a brilliant experience.

My Christian faith really shapes everything for me. It’s not just about the big questions, but even just how I treat people every day. I always think, with every person you meet you’ve got this opportunity to make their day either a tiny bit better or a tiny bit worse. And honestly? I just can’t see any reason to choose worse. That’s genuinely how I feel.

I interviewed Denzel Washington last year and something he said really stuck with me,“There are three phases of life: The first phase you learn, the second you earn, and the third you return.” There’s no reason why you can’t do all three at the same time. Supporting my university at this stage in my career means I really get to see the difference it makes. 

We desperately need different perspectives in broadcasting. If all journalists are alike, our stories become bland. I remember when I was starting out it was incredibly hard without any ‘insider’ help. That struggle drove me to set up a scholarship here at Sheffield, mentoring two new journalism students every year. I’m really impressed with everyone I’ve worked with so far; it’s fantastic to see them all now making their mark in the industry. 

I always want to make sure I tell people’s stories responsibly. It’s a big responsibility when someone opens up about their life or what they’ve been through. I’m proud that I’ve never had anybody say “you’ve misrepresented me” or “I’m disappointed with the way that came out”. That’s very important to me.

The city has had a major influence on the stories I cover. In fact, a chance meeting whilst walking Winnie in Endcliffe Park led to one of the proudest moments of my career. It was
there I met Tony Foulds. He was just a boy in 1944 when a WW2 US fighter plane, the Mi Amigo, crashed and exploded while he was playing in the park. All ten crew on board died. Tony was only saved thanks to the pilot who took pains to avoid him as the plane came down. I couldn’t believe I’d never heard about it before. Supported by thousands of people, including relatives of the crew and – of course – Tony, I helped organise a hugely emotional flypast on the 75th anniversary of the crash. It was such a special day. Tony has become a great friend and I consider it a privilege to have been able to tell his incredible Sheffield story.