A short biography
Born in 1967, I grew up wanting to be a soldier. Being a soldier represented action and adventure. "Travel the world and meets lots of new people" and it was true. Before joining the British Army, I spent time travelling around the Mediterranean Sea working on rich people's yachts, by bus and on foot.
I joined the army in 1987, went through Sandhurst and joined my regiment, The Devonshire & Dorset Regiment, which went straight out to Denmark on a NATO exercise. Soon afterwards, we were sent out for training in Kenya where we trained in the rain forests, out in the bush learning how to survive, fight and live. The regiment was then sent to South Armagh in Northern Ireland for an operational tour for four and a half months, before I came back for more specialist training at the army's school of infantry. I was next posted to Londonderry for a short operational tour which was intense and active as the IRA was still making itself known. It was 1991 by this time and the first Gulf War was gearing up to full pace. The Devonshire & Dorset Regiment would have been the next battalion sent into the theatre if the Allies had crossed the border from Kuwait into Iraq. It didn't happen. Nonetheless, I had great fun and gained skiing and sailing qualifications, as well climbing experience.
In July 1991, I left the army to prepare for my journey down Africa on bicycles with my brother. It was a year which has had a profound effect on my life.
After returning from the trip down Africa, I started working for companies in sales before landing a job with Microsoft in 2000 in their publishing division. After five years there, I left to work for Interflora, followed by HP for a spell. I then moved into the IT training world for a while before setting up my own online learning business with three other guys. I now work for a search engine company in London and I have worked & travelled in the USA, Europe and India.
I'm married to Penny (who waited for me while I was cycling down Africa). We have two children, Emily and Toby. I gained a new freedom when I got my motorbike licence recently, and I still love cycling, walking, life outdoors and travelling.
I joined the army in 1987, went through Sandhurst and joined my regiment, The Devonshire & Dorset Regiment, which went straight out to Denmark on a NATO exercise. Soon afterwards, we were sent out for training in Kenya where we trained in the rain forests, out in the bush learning how to survive, fight and live. The regiment was then sent to South Armagh in Northern Ireland for an operational tour for four and a half months, before I came back for more specialist training at the army's school of infantry. I was next posted to Londonderry for a short operational tour which was intense and active as the IRA was still making itself known. It was 1991 by this time and the first Gulf War was gearing up to full pace. The Devonshire & Dorset Regiment would have been the next battalion sent into the theatre if the Allies had crossed the border from Kuwait into Iraq. It didn't happen. Nonetheless, I had great fun and gained skiing and sailing qualifications, as well climbing experience.
In July 1991, I left the army to prepare for my journey down Africa on bicycles with my brother. It was a year which has had a profound effect on my life.
After returning from the trip down Africa, I started working for companies in sales before landing a job with Microsoft in 2000 in their publishing division. After five years there, I left to work for Interflora, followed by HP for a spell. I then moved into the IT training world for a while before setting up my own online learning business with three other guys. I now work for a search engine company in London and I have worked & travelled in the USA, Europe and India.
I'm married to Penny (who waited for me while I was cycling down Africa). We have two children, Emily and Toby. I gained a new freedom when I got my motorbike licence recently, and I still love cycling, walking, life outdoors and travelling.
