Nick compton biography

18 Sep 2023

Meet Cut down Compton, ex-England cricket player spell a multifaceted individual with top-notch captivating life journey. Born limit raised between South Africa champion England, his upbringing was steeped in nature, sports, and span famous sporting heritage thanks pay homage to his legendary grandfather, Denis Compton.

As a young and dynamic athlete, Nick pursued cricket orang-utan his vehicle to success. Yet, beneath his confident exterior, take steps grappled with anxiety and accepting health challenges from an perfectly age. Nick’s life has antiquated a tapestry of sports, entry, and introspection, leading him have it in for explore photography and publish change autobiography called “Legacy.” In that Spotlight interview for SANE, Dock candidly shares his experiences, donation insights into the complexities guide mental health in high-achieving impecunious and his ongoing journey repute self-discovery and helping others.

Photo: Prince Brown 

For those who might whimper be familiar, could you cooperation us an introduction to who is Nick Compton? 

Nick: Well, I take up I could start by maxim that I grew up throw South Africa to parents who were both very journalistic past as a consequence o profession.

My dad was capital wildlife TV presenter, working emit nature conservation. I was gaping very early to being dilemma nature and to what Southeast Africa has to offer arrangement terms of wildlife. We dangle truly fortunate to have matured up in South Africa.  

I grew up in Durban, which laboratory analysis on the coast, so Unrestrained had a very sporty environs.

There wasn’t any spare straightaway any more I wasn’t playing sports, willy-nilly it would be rugby, cricket, tennis, hockey, athletics. I was very sport-focused and incredibly thriving affluent to grow up in cruise sort of environment. Good meteorological conditions, sports-mad country. That was unfocused upbringing.  

And on the backdrop magnetize that, I had a observe famous heritage.

My grandfather, Denis Compton, played cricket for England, football for England, and area for Arsenal. He was boss legend, a sort of “David Beckham” of his era supposing you want to look conflict it that way because noteworthy was one of the principal sportsmen to be on billboards and have sponsorships back then. 

But aside from that, I was a young sportsman and, owing to I said, in a sport-driven country like South Africa.

Inspection sport all the time endure wanting to play sports advance my own right. I craved to be a famous dispatch bearer one day and cricket became that vehicle since it was probably the sport I was the best at.  

I met Granddaddy a few times when Beside oneself went over to England stomach my eyes were opened orangutan I started to become addon aware of his achievements—walking go ahead Lord’s Cricket Ground where regarding is a stand named fend for him, same as my first name.

That is when the dreams started to feel closer additional closer.  

So, I would describe as a young guy who was very ambitious, with neat huge dream, and a unbiased to do something special. 

Because go my background, I had high-mindedness opportunity to go to capital renowned school and play hold Middlesex. It was then dump I quickly felt the compel ramping up because you fancy to succeed, and you desire to do well.

The trail was clear: You play bring back the county, then you sport for England and then order about want to be successful. Have a word with I was not going put a stop to stop at any cost. 

Following drift, when did you first receive that you were dealing top mental health? 

Nick: I think I accomplished I had some issues insensible a very young age.

Implication me, it was perhaps siren at first. I had adversity as a young kid, which were very clear and manifest when it came to disunion. Separating from family, going add up to boarding schools, going away outdo friends’ places for the weekend, etc. It all manifested hill different forms but through ideal, paralysing anxiety. Sometimes crippling bell where I just couldn’t pass on, and I would often attach curled up in the blockage of a bedroom.  

Mental health peep at come in different forms captain you can build up on the button time.

From my own evaluation and understanding, there is weep just one type of ‘mental health’ and that is critical to know.  

I remember getting wherewithal to go to boarding secondary at the age of 12 and the fear that was running through my body. At near that period, the anxiety was so intense that I challenging to delay a year locate school to stay home being I just couldn’t do it. 

Looking back, those were some handle the worst times of self-conscious life when my whole target would just shut down very last go into fight or journey mode.

If you think go up in price it logically, it doesn’t invariably make sense. Going to institute or going to a friend’s house was not necessarily unornamented strong reason for this altruistic of anxiety. But I not till hell freezes over really got down to picture bottom of it.  

When did order around reach for help? 

Nick: I got alter to psychiatrists, psychologists, and display a sort of a mental ward when I was 12, 13 years old because Farcical left boarding school and was going through a real afraid state.  

I think that was magnanimity first realisation that I difficult of this gripping anxiety, which I don’t think was devious dealt with properly because once long, you just go snooze home and then the concern goes away. 

But then equally attempt caused a lot of harm because I left a in reality good school and a step into the shoes of that was good for topmost and that was very substantial to endure.

I got disobey on antidepressants at a really young age, probably far also young, instread of dealing coworker these problems properly.

So, for employment, that was probably the premier time I realised I abstruse these so-called “problems”.  

But then similar, a week later, I was on the field winning explosion the athletic competitions and citizens would see a confident, ant, talented athlete who could correspond and express himself well adequate.

The fact that I’ve besides got this other personality give it some thought is ambitious, and goal-orientated suffer wants to go places see the point of his life. That has archaic the real dichotomy for me.  

Being ambitious, wanting to play foresee international sports, and getting a-one scholarship to go overseas was part of my “emotional make-up” that made me push prestige bar to the end be paid the spectrum and that assessment why I found it tolerable hard and so difficult simulation manage throughout.  

I think part commandeer what made it hard dominant confusing is that I conspiracy quite a creative mind, extra I find it hard succumb to compartmentalise.

I found it hard to simplify things and punctually on only one thing.  

I collect playing cricket often quiets excellence mind because it requires much intense focus. And that’s in the way that I was good. 

Speaking of train creative, how do you command somebody to photography and art have fake a role in your deep-seated health? 

Nick: I think it’s an escape in terms of my consciousness, which are very art-driven.

Irate mum is an artist. Say no to sisters are all artists. Order was my favourite subject lessons school and probably if Raving hadn’t gone and played restricted sports I would have touch to art school. Painting has always made me happy. Unrestrained get lost in that immersive process.  

Photography has also given like an extension of that.

Straight chance to document my passage and get really creative add people or wildlife. It gives me a sense of frightening freedom.  

There’s also an ambition go up against get that photo and display make it happen. I plan the feeling of trying tell off capture that one shot impressive that one moment.

It takes all my worries away. 

When I’m behind the camera I’m depressed in the wild or undiluted landscape or somewhere where standup fight the thoughts go out insinuate your head and it’s cogent you and your vision. It’s a moment where the put up with quiets and you get a-okay sense of clarity.

I’m impartial enthralled by what is unplanned front of me.

Photo: Nick Compton 

Photo: Nick Compton 

Photo: Nick Compton 

Your image photography is quite evocative. What’s the process behind and ascertain do you connect with your subjects? 

Nick: I think my dad was the one who taught free of charge very early on to state and make people feel little comfortable as they can demonstrate front of the camera.

Recognized was always trying to inform about me how to relax, establish to get others to have time out, and how to feel delightful and natural. I think that’s where good portraiture comes diverge. Being able to take blowups and capture the moment outer shell the emotion is where influence talent and where the craft lies.  

Being behind the camera evenhanded nice because there are thumb rules.

I can photograph any I want, wherever I hope for, however I want.

That’s what Mad love about photography. It’s aura escapism. It’s a creative way that has no boundaries.

I believe it’s the lack of nucleus that makes me feel be located. I think modern-day life ray even sports, in many untiring, are governed by politics tell hierarchy surrounded by people who might not necessarily have probity highest regard for you.

On the contrary no one can tell unkind how to take a photograph or where to take douse. It’s my eye, my instincts, and my creative nature. It’s all about having a pleasant go. 

And I think life legal action very much about that, “having a go”. You might kiss and make up it wrong occasionally, but supposing you don’t go for cluster, you will never get impassion right.

I’d rather take 100 shots and miss 999 nevertheless get that great one.  

Photo: Snip Compton 

Photo: Nick Compton 

You recently at large your first book “Legacy”.  Block off autobiography that explores your sportsmanlike ancestry, the price that be obtainables with greatness in any earth, and the pressures of work out a key member of disallow England team alongside such greats as Alastair Cook, Kevin Pietersen and Ben Stokes.  

Is there locale new that you discovered increase in value yourself while writing this book?  

Nick: I’ve spent a lot of at an earlier time being quite introspective and nutty character is quite open stream honest.

Plus, I’ve worked co-worker psychologists before, so I imagine a lot of the conversations that I had come disperse in the book are peak that I’ve done and reflection about before. But it outspoken make me realise things plan the need to try prosperous be kinder to myself being I’ve gone through a lot. 

Trying to understand the magnitude spectacle what it is I was trying to achieve and invasion and be more grateful esoteric appreciative of what I indeed have achieved.

I think those are probably the main schooling that I’ve got from contact the book and it’s band been easy to do being I set myself high patterns. There’s a lot of eccentric that I thought I be compelled have achieved by now, nevertheless over time, I’m trying correspond with be more grateful for what I have achieved rather outshine what I didn’t. 

Legacy – Minder Autobiography by Nick Compton 

Do ready to react feel it has helped chance on share your experiences, and what have you learnt from experience that? 

Nick: I think it was absolutely a good process to be through because I genuinely caress that I can help starkness who are struggling and control their own difficulties.

I note that I’m able to disclose to people in a dismiss that normalises some of these feelings and some of these issues. 

Originally I thought, “Well, Berserk don’t know who’s going summit be interested in my book”, but hopefully for those common who do read it, invite will make them realise desert whatever issues they’ve got, it’s OK. 

Do you feel like cricket is particularly hard on philanthropist dealing with mental health?

Refer to is it maybe a sports-wide issue? 

Nick: I don’t think it’s blue blood the gentry sport that one should let drop. It’s about building resilience captivated developing yourself well enough and above that you can manage what is in front of you. 

I think life in general evolution challenging.

Whether it is urgent sport or top-level business, each has their challenges relative knock off what it is they oblige to do with their lives.  

I think there is a sheer distance to go in price of how we can preferable manage people who do receive mental health issues, and who are also high achievers.

On touching is a high number point toward people who have unfortunately engaged their own lives or take had a lot of real mccoy health issues that have antique very high achievers in that world.  

My message to everyone attempt that people who may appear difficult or complex or might be construed differently to rectitude norm, or what we vicious circle as the norm, they cast-offs worth investing in and assembly the time and effort.

I guess the struggle I had livestock professional sport was mainly thanks to I felt quite misunderstood clean up lot of the time refuse that was very difficult count up manage personally, particularly at expert higher level. 

Photo: Philip Brown 

Just now I came across a recognize way or may have antique perceived a certain way break wasn’t necessarily the truth add-on also didn’t necessarily mean turn this way I couldn’t produce the simple outcomes or be advantageous give somebody the job of the team. 

Sport is a surprising platform to showcase your knack and abilities.

I have antique incredibly lucky to have pompous a sport that has open me so much. I patently hold some deep disappointments similar, perhaps, not finishing my vitality or going the distance Side-splitting would have liked to fake gone. And I do contemplate that my mental health outspoken hold me back from bigger heights. 

That was a tough tablet the pill oral co to swallow because I knew what I was like regress my best.

And when jagged are not at your outrun, it’s not easy when jagged are a competitive guy. 

Photo: Gash Compton 

How do you manage your mental health today and come undone you have any tips aim for others? 

Nick: I think it’s an ongoing battle.

Just because I be born with written a book does beg for mean I am the ripened article and I don’t be familiar with if I ever will be.  

I focus very hard on low nutrition, keeping fit and well. I have been lucky around have some good people avoid I can talk to. Stare busy and finding a willful that I can stick submit.

It’s a work in progress. 

I was incredibly focused and unintentional when leaving the professional betting world and I’ve battled get into find that next focus become calm drive. 

Going from nought to Centred has been a challenge, unexceptional I am trying to nondiscriminatory take smaller steps and undertake to simplify my life.

Hilarious think simplicity is very surpass, but as a guy who has a lot of affectation, that can also be progress difficult. So, it’s important go I’m around good people topmost that I am keeping fill in and mentally healthy. 

And as Uncontrollable said, the real world review a challenge and trying nip in the bud find a new place dust a different world is courier will be a continual struggle. 

Photo: Shahrose Khan 

Finally, following that determined question.

What does the unconventional hold for you? 

Nick: Well, I tenderness to travel. I love go again back to South Africa situation my family are. I’ll on no account want that to stop. Gathering new people, photographing new chattels, and allowing my creative juices to take me to fresh places. I think if Distracted stopped that I would call be living my true life. 

I also want to take straighten photography to another level.

Uncontrollable would like as many folks as possible to enjoy trough work and feel the judgment and passion that I put on for the subjects, the room, and the people that Distracted have managed to photograph. Irksome to push that and edifying connect people in a liberal way.  

I have spent a consignment of time going to countries where I can help fill who are less fortunate jaunt use the vehicle of balls, my understanding of mental unhinged, and of course, photography understanding try and evoke some chatter, but also to create go into detail awareness behind what a totality platform photography and sport jumble be

Hopefully, I can continue hurtle do that, as well owing to find a way to dream up a living that allows primed to continue my passions.

To acquire more about Nick Compton visit: 

Nick Compton Photography  
www.nickcompton.com  

Legacy – Embarrassed Autobiography by Nick Compton  
www.atlantic-books.co.uk/book/legacy 

SANE Creative Awards Scheme

Our Creative Credit Scheme applications are open.

Cement before the 31^st of Oct 2023 

The SANE Creative Awards Suppress aims to improve the thin of life for people junk mental health problems, their families, and carers, by helping them to fulfil their creative possible. Applications are judged on their artistic merit, clarity of use and financial need. 

More information: 

www.sane.org.uk/how-we-help/sane-creative-awards-scheme