I was born in Edwinstowe in the county of Nottinghamshire. The Heart of Robin Hood Country.
I played in the tree that, according to the legend, Robin Hood used as a hiding place while evading capture by the authorities of the time.
I have 4 brothers and 4 sisters.
My favourite school subjects were woodwork and metalwork and technical drawing (which I missed the exam for. Oops!).
I married my childhood sweetheart, Samantha. We met aged 10 and 12 years old.
I was an electrician for just short of 40 years. Self employed for 24 of them.
I have two grown up children and two young grandsons.
I relocated to Devon in 1996.
I have written two published novels. Caught, published in 2010, and Pursuit, published in 2012. Both still available on Kindle.
I’ve made four violins and tried to learn to play them. You would be welcome to listen, but please bring ear defenders.
I’ve made an electric guitar out of an old wooden mantlepiece and have played guitar since I was 10 years old.
I used to be part of a band.
I have previously made concrete garden ornaments.
Tea is my main source of water. Don’t slurp it!
I cannot understand why anyone would drink Coca-Cola.
Pass the chocolate please.
I am vegetarian (most of the time).
In my youth I made catapults a plenty, a long bow. A sword (a metal work examination piece my teacher told me I would not be able to do, then almost refused to let me take it home in case someone got hurt). A crossbow.
I have made many go-carts, a tandem bicycle and a wooden child’s trike as well as a collapsible cycle carrying trailer and a remote control aeroplane.
I built a bespoke handmade kitchen in my first house.
In 2010 I self-built an extension to our current home
One of my favourite holiday destinations is the Lake District. I love Keswick!
I have made soft toys, kites and was taught to knit by my grandmother. My wife still has a jumper made by me.
I have rebuilt car engines. A skill learned courtesy of a father who never bought a reliable car and instead relied on his sons as fixer-uppers.
I loved our tropical marine tank when we had it. Yes, I built that too. But when my children left home I was concerned about it being looked after while we were away so it’s inhabitants found a forever home at Plymouth Marine Aquarium.
One of my favourite past times is walking with our two dogs. Jazz, a White Highland Terrier (Westie) and Indie, a cute Black Labrador. She’s so small we call her a Labradinky.
My favourite movies include, On Golden Pond, Cinderella Man, The Help, Apollo 13 and La La Land.
I love music. Elgar to Elton John and much in between. I don’t mind who it is. If it catches my ear, I play it.
I make a very good omelette.
When I shared a bedroom At home with one of my brothers, I rigged a switch to the door so it would turn the light off if one of our parents came in after curfew.
I have written poems. Some of my best to my wife.
One of my memorable cars was a yellow Triumph Spitfire. Loved the way it looked but keep the repair kit close to hand.
I love watching the birds on the feeders at home while making tree sculptures.
I can’t stand that our Labrador constantly licks, your legs if wearing shorts, your face if she can get near enough and definitely my grandchildren. She means well but that has to stop!
I have owned a speed boat (my wife hated it! I sold it).
The best speech at my daughters wedding was definitely mine. (Make it short, respectful and tell people something interesting they don’t know)
The furthest I have travelled was to Australia where my son lived for nearly 7 years.
I always finish every project I start, but I don’t always like what I finish.
And, once I start you cannot stop me until I’m finished.
I forget to eat when I’m working on a project.
I love to visit St Mary’s Bay and Mansands beaches with the dogs. A few minutes from home.
When I was younger I had a fascination for dinosaurs, the Romans, Koala Bears and boomerangs.
The first time I saw a train set was at my grandad’s house. I’ve built a couple myself. N gauge. (Model railways I meant).
I’ve never broken a bone!
I once cycled 10 miles to a swimming pool after finding enough money to get in by tipping over my parents sofas.
There was a time when metal detectors interested me. I couldn’t afford one, so I made one.
In my teens I went to the cinema with a friend and sat through the original three Star Wars films back to back.
My first house cost about half as much as my current car.
