I was born in West Yorkshire, spent my formative years in Liverpool (from the age of 5 to 14 yrs old).

My past work experience has mostly focussed on working with people, I trained as a nurse in both General and Psychiatric Nursing, progressing to living in Austria ( Motz & Seefeld) and then Italy ( Lake Garda) for a total of 8 yrs operating Coach based holidays.

I returned to England in 1984 and took up employment as a Coach & Holidays manager with the former National Bus company, at the same time I become a special Constable for Sussex Police, and following deregulation of the National Bus Company my wife and I moved to Skipton in North Yorkshire, where we started a small bus company, sadly the recession of the 90's took its toll and I was forced to close the company.

A change of direction in my life led to employment with North Yorkshire Social Services as a residential Social Worker, working with Kids who had behavioural problems, eventually becoming a care manager working with disabled children, I read for a full time for a degree in Social Psychology at the University of Bradford, gaining a BSc Hons in 1996, I continued my education by reading part time for an MSc in Applied Psychology at Bolton Institute, finally training as a Counsellor for Cruse Bereavement Care and although I am no longer active in this role I fully support Cruse in its aims.

In 1997 I became Politically active, I was elected Mayor of Skipton, from 2002 to 2003 around the same time I chaired Victim Support in Skipton from 1998 rising to become North Yorkshire County Chair and for 2 yrs, and from 2005 to 2007 I was elected Vice Chair of Victim Support National Council in London, I continued my voluntary work after a short break, becoming involved in CAB and also becoming a School Govenor for the third time.

I have been married for 25 yrs, I firmly believe that my life skills and experiences have enabled me to advise and help others avoid the pitfalls and explore the choices that we all face in life.