I was born in 1947 the son of a civil servant father and teacher mother and had a spectacularly unsuccessful school education passing GCE’s in Metalwork, Woodwork, Geometrical and Technical Drawing and Music. Leaving school at fifteen I joined the Royal Artillery Band in Woolwich as a junior musician. Finding that I was now doing something I actually enjoyed I progressed rapidly as a bassoonist playing the bass drum on the occasions that the band marched. The RA Band frequently broadcast on the BBC in programmes such as Music While You Work and Friday Night is Music Night and Radio 3. The RA Band also had a orchestra and, being based in Outer London, I took advantage of receiving tuition from some of the countries best bassoon players which led to very useful freelance playing - and extra cash! I left the Army in 1974, gained my LRAM diploma and trained as a teacher working in Faversham, Kent where I also played in the local brass band. From there I moved to Long Eaton in Nottinghamshire, then Rickmansworth, Hertfordshire before finishing up in Framlingham. As well as teaching I have always been interested in outdoor pursuits such as canoeing, skiing and hill walking and have taken groups of pupils on expeditions to Bolivia and Namibia.

Over the years my freelance bassoon playing has filled many Saturdays evenings playing in orchestras throughout this region. Currently I play with the Colchester Symphony Orchestra and the Puffins (a woodwind ensemble). Now that I am semi-retired I earn a few pennies arranging and selling music.