Alumni Services

Glenn Cosby

Former assistant principal and Great British Bake Off contestant Glenn Cosby still dreams of haggis, neeps and tatties and is returning to his former home in February for the Big Leap.

Name Glenn Cosby
Degree Course English and French Literature
Year of Graduation 1998
Glenn Cosby

Your time at the University

Edinburgh was my first choice after spending time on the Fringe in a school drama group. Of course seeing the city for the first time out of festival season was a bit of a shock but a very pleasant one. I had such a good time in Edinburgh and enjoyed my studies immensely. I do wish I had skipped a few less lectures to go and waste time in Nicholson’s Café though.

All of my favourite memories of the time are associated with my friends many of whom are still extremely close friends to this day. I remember fantastic Hogmanays, bracing walks up Arthur’s Seat to sing to the wind and happy hours in many of the city's wonderful bars. I still dream of haggis, neeps and tatties served with ice cream scoops.

Then along came the Great British Bake Off and since then I have morphed into a baking demonstrator/tutor, part time charity worker and writer.

Glenn Cosby

Tell us about your experiences since leaving the University

After more travelling to Spain and Australia I settled in London and tried to convince myself that a corporate career would work for me. So then I went back to my roots and put my degree to use becoming a secondary English teacher. Within three years I was an assistant principal and Head of Sixth Form. Then along came the Great British Bake Off and since then I have morphed into a baking demonstrator/tutor, part time charity worker and writer. The same passions which drove me at 18 still do now and I am so glad I studied what I did in Edinburgh. It’s far from where I live now but it is always such a pleasure to come home again, even if only for a visit.

Alumni wisdom

Be as busy as you can be while at Edinburgh – there are so many wonderful ways in which you can enrich your student experience I would urge you to take the fullest advantage you can of all of them.

The Big Leap

Glenn is returning to Edinburgh in February 2016 as part of the Big Leap's cake bake world record bid. You can find out more about the Big Leap and other events that are happening as part of our volunteering fundraising adventure by visiting the website. 

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