When I Was 21

To help celebrate Depaul UK's 21st birthday, a number of celebrities have reflected on what they were doing at 21, the struggles they faced and their hopes and aspirations for the future. You can take part too - fill in your submission online and be part of this project to mark Depaul UK's 21st birthday.

Jo Brand: Comedian

"The run up to my 21st birthday is a bit of a blur- my 21 milestone found me knuckling down to a fairly conventional lifestyle, apart from the off duty and non lecture times when me and my mates continued to behave somewhat foolishly, some might say. However, what I did have was stability, and if I got on I was pretty much assured of a job..." Read More >>>>>

Andrew Marr: Journalist and Political Commentator

"At 21, I was a nervous, new and spectacularly incompetent young journalist, who had just trained in Newcastle and had joined The Scotsman newspaper in Edinburgh. I was renting a room, drinking too much and dreaming of one day being a columnist, propounding my own views. Though I'd been to University, I was still unsure of myself and of course..." Read More >>>>>

Clare Grogan: Actress, Singer and Radio Presenter

"When I was 21 I was still living with my parents in our council house in Glasgow. When I wasn't at home I was touring the world with my band Altered Images. Either home or away I was surrounded by people who encouraged me to work hard follow my dreams, have fun and be kind...." Read More >>>>>

Maggi Hambling: Painter and Sculptor

"When I was 21, in 19 swinging 66 it was pretty cool to be an art student in London. We saved hard for halves of bitter, any possible shred from Carnaby Street and thought we were “it”. I made forays into the then fashionable Pop Art and Abstract Expressionism but worked consistently in the Light Room...."Read More >>>>>

David Kremer: President & Owner of Seven Towns Ltd

"When I was 21 I had just completed university and had taken up my first job at Austin Rover / Jaguar Cars. I could not believe how dull it was and used to disappear into the toilets to read a book for 10 minutes every hour to alleviate the mind killing boredom. I was a computer operator doing design work... "Read More >>>>>

Jan Ward: Founder and CEO of Corrotherm Intl

"The year I was 21 was when I took my first proper full time job. I had been separated from the man I had married at sixteen for 2 years by then. When I first left I had to sleep rough or on friends couches for a couple for weeks. A good friend at the time - who eventually became my partner of 23 years..." Read More >>>>>

Neal Purvis: Screenwriter

"FLASHBACK TO: 1982. I was 21, had dropped out of University, and was now in my second year on a film and photography degree at the Polytechnic of Central London. I had always loved cinema. But I was also in a band. We were extremely tight, well rehearsed, but never actually played anywhere. We would always argue with one..." Read More >>>>>

Mark Radcliffe: BBC Radio 2 Presenter

"When I was 21 I felt so grown up and thought I knew everything really. I had just graduated from Manchester University and had a big party at the Placemate 7 nightspot with my friend Jamie whose birthday is three days before mine. I also had a tea party at my mum and Dad's house in Bolton...." Read More >>>>>

Simon Clemett: NASA Scientist

"When I turned 21 I was in my third year at Oxford feeling perplexed and somewhat overwhelmed at the prospect of having to take finals in only a few months. Yet at the same time I had to marvel at the journey that had brought me to this point, the most unplanned of adventures.Growing up I had never done well at school..." Read More >>>>>

Shelagh Fogharty: BBC Radio 5 Presenter and Journalist.

"At 21, I was living in Barcelona, as part of my degree in Spanish and French. I had no burning plan to be a journalist at the time but did know that if I wanted to really enjoy a job, it would involving talking and chewing over ideas and events...." Read More >>>>>