Born in 1958 near Herne Bay on the north coast of Kent.  This might explain some of my fascination with the sea  and  ships.   

Eventually  moved  to Cheltenham in 1969 with a few years in Aylesbury along the way.  

Attended   Brunel Technical College in Bristol from Sept ’74 to Dec ’77, obtaining the Marine Radiocommunication General Certificate (the follow-on to a PMG1) plus DoT   Radar  Maintenance.   

Company sponsored  cadet.   

Joined   first  ship  (owned by British & Commonwealth / Cayzer Irvine Shipping) on  3rd  Jan 1978 at Tilbury – the m.v. Clan MacIver (GXBX) – general cargo alternating  runs from   UK to E. Africa  and UK  to  India.   Five  and  a half years spent with Cayzer on various ships.  

Returned to Brunel Tech in 1982,   gained the HND in Electronics (Marine).  

Joined Christian Salvesen Shipping riding coasters from NE UK to Thames power stations, loaded with coal.   Second  trip was 8 weeks duration swinging on an anchor off  Southend   pier  during   the miners’ strike.  

In ’83 moved to the   North  European   Fleet   of  Chevron Shipping Co.  Manning office at that time was in Copenhagen. Spent   seven  and   a half years with Chevron before swallowing the anchor in ’91.

Now work in IT for a major  American   multinational  IT outsourcing  company.

Licensed   radio  amateur  with   the   call   sign   G4FUJ.