Year 7 Entrance Assessment - CLICK HERE TO REGISTER
  • Homepage
  • Admissions
  • Stanfield Prep
  • Senior School
  • Sixth Form
  • Merchants+ Facility Hire and Children’s Activities
  • Calendar
  • Events
  • Latest News
  • Contact Us
  • Job Vacancies
  • Alumni & Development
  • SOCS Sports
  • Stanfield Prep
  • Seniors
  • Sixth Form
  • Menu Spacer ALWAYS KEEP IN MIDDLE
  • Admissions
  • Our Family
  • Merchants+

MENU

The Ukraine Connection – Kiron Reid (1989 Leaver)

The Ukraine Connection

Ukraine has been in the spotlight recently, first for the war and now for Jamala winning the Eurovision Song Contest. Kiron Reid (1982 – 1989) spent six months volunteering and working in Ukraine. He found that his education at Merchant Taylors’ came in really useful.

In 2014, I left my lectureship at the University of Liverpool so that I could combine my interests in law, politics and international matters by doing international election observation work. I’d  already done this short term in the Balkans, but  now wanted to get a Long Term Observer post, which is like being a regional organiser for an election mission. In May I gained a short term observer post with the UK team for the Organisation for Security and Cooperation in Europe (the OSCE) , which monitors Ukraine during elections for a new President. I was sent to a city none of us had ever heard of before. Certainly not a sheltered nook.

Zaporizhia (Zaporizhzhya from Ukrainian) is bigger than Liverpool, a port on the Dnipro / Dnieper, from Soviet times a major vehicle and aircraft manufacturing centre. Zaporizhia is in the South East of Ukraine and is next to the region where the war is currently continuing. I met an English professor from the University, who invited me back as a volunteer when she heard I liked Ukraine. They made me a visiting Professor in the Faculty of Foreign Languages (which specialises in British English), Faculty of Law and Faculty of Journalism. I arrived in a heatwave at the start of October and left in December with snow thick on the ground. I knew about the weather pattern from Geography at school. I knew about the growth of the Russian empire and birth of the Soviet Union from History. The most difficult thing was writing being in Cyrillic, terrible roads and pavements, and some very strange food. Biology helped me understand flora and fauna; and Chemistry the important city industries.

I’d like to thank all of my 1980s teachers as they all contributed. My experience helped me get a Long Term Observer contract in Ukraine in September 2015 for the Mayoral Elections. I had two incredible months in beautiful Odessa, Kyiv and northern Chernihiv. It is a country I recommend visiting, especially to find out the truth against Putin’s propaganda.

Kiron Reid (1982 – 1989) is an Honorary Research Fellow at the University of Liverpool

SHARE:

Previous Post All News Next Post

Latest News

  • Opening of Mulberry House Marks New Chapter for Merchant Taylors’
  • A New Era Begins at Merchant Taylors’
  • Celebrating Achievement Across the Curriculum at Merchant Taylors’
  • Merchant Taylors’ Pupils Celebrate Excellent GCSE Results
  • Pupils Celebrate A Level Success Across Merchant Taylors’ Sixth Form
View All News

Upcoming Events

  • October Half Term Holiday Club on October 27, 2025 8:00 am
  • October Half Term Football Camp on October 27, 2025 9:30 am
  • October Half Term Holiday Club on October 28, 2025 8:00 am
  • October Half Term Football Camp on October 28, 2025 9:30 am
  • October Half Term Holiday Club on October 29, 2025 8:00 am
View All Events

Join our family

admissions information sign up to our newsletter

SHARE:

Back to top

Instagram Feed

A powerful and reflective few days in Japan 🇯🇵

Pupils visited Hiroshima to learn about the events of 1945 and pay their respects at the Peace Memorial Park, a deeply moving experience for everyone.

They also enjoyed a hands-on sushi-making workshop, mastering their rolling skills and savouring one last taste of Japanese culture before heading home 🍣✨
We are hiring ✨ We currently have a number of o We are hiring ✨

We currently have a number of opportunities to join our team at Merchant Taylors' Schools.

Click the link in our bio to find out more about these roles ⤴️
Our Bronze Duke of Edinburgh pupils kicked off hal Our Bronze Duke of Edinburgh pupils kicked off half-term in style, completing two days of hiking through the beautiful hills of Appley Bridge, Parbold and Dalton 

After camping overnight at Tawd Vale, pupils showed amazing teamwork and resilience navigating tough terrain with just their maps and compasses, carrying their food, tents, and kit across 25km of countryside! 🧭

A huge thank you to our fantastic staff team for making this unforgettable weekend possible, and well done to all pupils for their determination and spirit! 👏
A relaxed morning in Japan today as pupils took a A relaxed morning in Japan today as pupils took a local train to visit the famous Monkey Sanctuary and Bamboo Park 🌿🐒 

Before heading to Hiroshima on the bullet train, they tried their hand at making okonomiyaki, a delicious Japanese savoury pancake that’s a local favourite! 🇯🇵🥢
Arigatou Tokyo, konnichiwa Kyoto! 🇯🇵✨ Tod Arigatou Tokyo, konnichiwa Kyoto! 🇯🇵✨

Today our pupils travelled by bullet train to Kyoto, taking in the sights and culture along the way. There were more kimonos purchased, plenty of photos taken, and a poignant visit to a memorial for those affected by the 2011 tsunami.

A very special mention to one of our pupils who celebrated her 16th birthday in Kyoto today, what a memorable place to spend it! 🎉🎂

Everyone is now settling into the new hotel and looking forward to exploring more tomorrow. 🌸
Ready for the next step? ✨ We look forward to w Ready for the next step? ✨

We look forward to welcoming prospective pupils to our Year 7 Entrance Assessment for external candidates on Friday 7 November 2025.

The assessment forms part of our admissions process for entry to Merchant Taylors’, offering families the opportunity to take the next step towards joining our vibrant school community.

To register, please follow the link in our bio or contact our Admissions Team on 0151 949 9366 or admissions@merchanttaylors.com
Pupils on the Japan trip spent today exploring Hak Pupils on the Japan trip spent today exploring Hakone, beginning with a geography lesson from their guide before setting sail across the caldera lake aboard a traditional pirate ship ⛵️

The adventure continued with a cable car ride to the famous sulphur vents, where some tried black eggs and ice cream, while others took in the views in their newly bought kimonos 🇯🇵✨
Yesterday, our pupils in Japan enjoyed a fantastic Yesterday, our pupils in Japan enjoyed a fantastic day at Tokyo Disneyland, soaking up the sights, sounds and magic of one of Japan’s most iconic attractions. ✨🏰🇯🇵

After an action-packed few days exploring Tokyo, it was another unforgettable day of adventure with thrilling rides, colourful parades and plenty of Disney magic throughout.
Merchant Taylors' image

ADDITIONAL INFO
Disclaimer
Privacy
Cookie Usage
Terms & Conditions
Website Credits

LINKS
Intranet
iSAMS – Staff Portal
iSAMS – Student Portal
iSAMS – Parent Portal
SOCS Login
SOCS Calendar
Library

 
Contact
Join Our Team
Policies
Events
Governance

Admissions: 0151 949 9366
Prep School: 0151 924 1506
Senior School: 0151 928 3308
Sports Centre: 0151 949 9355

The Merchant Taylors’ School
Liverpool Road
Crosby
Liverpool
L23 0QP

Our social links

© The Merchant Taylors’ Schools, Crosby
Company No: 6654276
Registered Charity No: 1125485

We use cookies on our website to give you the most relevant experience by remembering your preferences and repeat visits. By clicking “Accept All”, you consent to the use of ALL the cookies. However, you may visit "Cookie Settings" to provide a controlled consent.
Cookie SettingsAccept All
Manage consent

Privacy Overview

This website uses cookies to improve your experience while you navigate through the website. Out of these, the cookies that are categorized as necessary are stored on your browser as they are essential for the working of basic functionalities of the website. We also use third-party cookies that help us analyze and understand how you use this website. These cookies will be stored in your browser only with your consent. You also have the option to opt-out of these cookies. But opting out of some of these cookies may affect your browsing experience.
Necessary
Always Enabled
Necessary cookies are absolutely essential for the website to function properly. These cookies ensure basic functionalities and security features of the website, anonymously.
CookieDurationDescription
cookielawinfo-checkbox-analytics11 monthsThis cookie is set by GDPR Cookie Consent plugin. The cookie is used to store the user consent for the cookies in the category "Analytics".
cookielawinfo-checkbox-functional11 monthsThe cookie is set by GDPR cookie consent to record the user consent for the cookies in the category "Functional".
cookielawinfo-checkbox-necessary11 monthsThis cookie is set by GDPR Cookie Consent plugin. The cookies is used to store the user consent for the cookies in the category "Necessary".
cookielawinfo-checkbox-others11 monthsThis cookie is set by GDPR Cookie Consent plugin. The cookie is used to store the user consent for the cookies in the category "Other.
cookielawinfo-checkbox-performance11 monthsThis cookie is set by GDPR Cookie Consent plugin. The cookie is used to store the user consent for the cookies in the category "Performance".
viewed_cookie_policy11 monthsThe cookie is set by the GDPR Cookie Consent plugin and is used to store whether or not user has consented to the use of cookies. It does not store any personal data.
Functional
Functional cookies help to perform certain functionalities like sharing the content of the website on social media platforms, collect feedbacks, and other third-party features.
Performance
Performance cookies are used to understand and analyze the key performance indexes of the website which helps in delivering a better user experience for the visitors.
Analytics
Analytical cookies are used to understand how visitors interact with the website. These cookies help provide information on metrics the number of visitors, bounce rate, traffic source, etc.
Advertisement
Advertisement cookies are used to provide visitors with relevant ads and marketing campaigns. These cookies track visitors across websites and collect information to provide customized ads.
Others
Other uncategorized cookies are those that are being analyzed and have not been classified into a category as yet.
SAVE & ACCEPT