Having spent my sixth form days learning to glide and fly and not getting down to my studies, I did not do proper justice to my A levels. However, my father suggested accountancy to which I took like a duck to water. I qualified at the first attempt in 1966 as a Chartered Accountant and  also became a member of the Institute of Taxation.  I became married to Hilary in 1968, a marriage that has endured and we have two grown up children who have done well and also have formed successful marriages. Both have climbed Kilimanjaro!

Hilary and I spent a time in South Africa before returning to Bournemouth where at the age of 26, I became a partner of a small firm. It expanded rapidly and at the time of my retirement in 2001, we were the second largest independent firm in the area. I have also been Chairman of the Southern Society of our institute.

Walking has been my main hobby. Hilary and I have walked several of the major long distance footpaths. I have also climbed extensively in the UK and the Pyrenees and  have trekked in a number of other interesting parts of the world.