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Drake’s the Name, Fergus Drake
An Interview undertaken by Mark
Ford and Becki Sykes
Fergus Drake — former member of
“Ensuite-tastic” James College and hailing from the
exciting town of Norwich grants us a few minutes of his
precious time to answer a few questions. Fergus, having
completed a degree in Politics and Economics here at York, ran
a storming campaign last summer, and romped home into the
position of President of the Student’s Union. So why are
we, Christis, daring to interview a man who would
feel more comfortable on the front pages of Nouse or Vision?
Because he’s a Christian. OK? And we thought it would be
nice.
- So Ferg, what challenges do you face as a Christian in
the Student’s Union?
- Trying to bring the principles of Christ into the
workplace can be at times challenging due to the diverse
nature of views and interests that people hold.
- Have there been any particularly sticky moments?
- At the Hustings and during the campaigning people make a
point of bringing up areas on which they know Christians will
hold opposing views to most other people such as LGB issues
and the Abortion issue. But I find that if you’re
genuine with people and consistent in your views then people
begin to realise where you’re coming from and are more
open to you. You still get some stick but that’s just
part of being President, you have to have wide shoulders
(figuratively speaking — Ed)
- How to you get to put your faith forward?
- (Adopts a slightly sarky voice) Well everyday I
try to sit down with people in the office and explain to them
that they need to be washed in the blood of the lamb. No, my
role is that of President not SU evangelist. I’m here
to represent the views and wishes of the Student’s
Union. In terms of putting my faith forward I try to show it
in the way I live my life, and in the commitment I show to my
job. I hope to let my belief in God come through in what I
do.
- Would you say you were an idealistic or an expedient
politician?
- I’m a pragmatist and a realist. I work with
what’s possible.
- Do you think that you need a certain amount of
ruthlessness to be in politics?
- I would like to hope not. I think you need to be
focussed, because you start off with an agenda which you can
get sidetracked from. The President is quite a reactive role,
you’re dealing with what other people put upon you and
you can get pulled this way and that, so you have to be
committed but I think it’s possible to be a good
president without being ruthless. That said, some people are
very ruthless in politics.
- Are there any decisions which you regret making as
President?
- Urm … (Fergus looks distinctly
uncomfortable) I’ll tell you at the end of my
term.
- Which issues do you think should be at the forefront of a
Christian’s mind when voting in the next election?
- I don’t believe that there should be a
fundamentalist right Christian vote, like there is in America
where people vote on the strength of one or two controversial
issues. Desmond Tutu said that anyone who believes that
Christianity and politics don’t mix was reading a
different Bible from him. I think that people should take
what they consider the Bible is saying and vote for a party
which engenders the specific values important to them, in the
most Godly way. I would leave it up to your readers to decide
whether they think that’s best achieved in the
Conservative, Labour or Liberal party. But we should
definitely be involved, for instance if you feel strongly
about Social Action then the best way to go about it is
through politics which in the environment of the university
would be Student Union politics.
- How much and in what ways do you use the Bible to form
your political views?
- (Gets sarky again!) Well I don’t look
through Leviticus to see what it says on Jacques Delores and
the European Union. No I look at the overriding principles
and the Biblical directions on honesty, truth, impartiality
and working for the good of everyone.
- Which passage from the Bible has most challenged or
affected you?
- (Looks learned and contemplative for a moment) 2
Corinthians “Don’t waste your time on vain
philosophies”. When I rededicated my life back in the
first year, that was one of the passages which most spoke to
me. Can you tell them that I rattled off my top fifteen
scriptural references?
- Why did you become a Christian?
- I’d been brought up
in a Christian household, both my parents are Christians. If
you want to put a specific date on my first commitment it
would be in 1986 at Mission England’s live satellite
linkup with Billy Graham. As to why, everyone has their own
interpretation of why you do it. Because I realised that
there was a greater truth, that Jesus was the Son of God,
that my sins could be forgiven. The point I mentioned before,
in the first year was that having come back from working in
Pakistan, I’d been really challenged by it as an
Islamic country. I decided that University is really the time
to work out where you’re coming from and to do
something about it. So over the Christmas holidays of 93/94 I
took the opportunity to read a lot of the Bible, to talk with
friends and to pray and became convinced that I needed to
rededicate my life.
- If you could change one thing about yourself, what would
it be?
- (After deep consideration) I’d like to
spend more time in sustained Bible study.
- What do you think about Alcuin having Gideon’s
Bibles in every room?
- (After explaining what we were talking about)
Wow! That’s a superb initiative! I hope that people get
a lot from it. I think that the work that the Gideon’s
Society does in hotels around the country is wonderful.
However, wearing my President’s hat I would have to say
that it’s only right that if other religions wanted to
place their literature in every room that we should allow
it.
- What is your favourite fish?
- (Looks puzzled as if it’s a trick
question) Scampi.
- If you were a toastie filling, what toastie filling would
you be and why?
- Nougat laced with Bailey’s. (Which toastie bar
has he been to? — Ed) Because it slips down easily
and has a cheeky aftertaste.
- Christis thanks the lovely Mr Drake
profusely and slips stealthily away.
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Last modified: 25th November 2005
