Education
My background is that I went to Christ's Hospital, commonly known as the Bluecoat school which is primarily a boarding school near Horsham. I would recommend this school to anyone who has the opportunity to go there. The video below is one I took on returning to CH, as it is known.
The Mission of CH is to: Challenge inequality by providing a nurturing, transformative education for young people from all backgrounds. The generosity of our benefactors has built up a valuable endowment over the centuries. However, Christ’s Hospital’s commitment to provide more bursary support than any other independent boarding school in the country exceeds the annual income from its endowment assets. Philanthropy therefore remains central for Christ’s Hospital to continue to transform lives for future generations.
I benefitted from my parents paying just 10% of full-fees, and I am against the imposition of VAT on private schools as it deters parents from providing the best for their children.
After passing A Levels in mathematics, physics and chemistry, I went to the University of Southampton where I gained a degree in Electronics. The Electronics and Computer Science faculty at the University of Southampton remains one of the leading faculties in the UK.
Career
In electronics, my responsibilities were developing military communications equipment and commercial communications equipment.
I then joined the EMI Records Group as a trainee Accountant and worked at: the record factory in Hayes; HMV Shops in Central London and for various EMI Records labels. After three years, I became a CIMA qualified accountant. It was at EMI Records that my passion for popular music developed and remains to this day.
Keen to combine electronics and finance, I joined IBM, a leading multinational company in the information processing industry. My career has included roles in manufacturing: systems, cost accounting, fixed assets accounting, invoicing and ledger systems. I have spent 10 years in international audit where I have managed audits covering all kinds of administration systems from payroll, accounting, payables, invoicing and receivables, development and sales operations. I also have excellent forensic accounting skills. More recently I have had extensive experience in accounting and business controls, due diligence and the acquisition and business integration of small and large companies.
Beliefs
I have the utmost integrity and will always stand up for what is correct, and consequently I will always seek justice for others and myself when they are disadvantaged unfairly. I tend to focus on substance over form and getting things "right first time". I thrive when managing complex projects and always put customer satisfaction first.
Hobbies and interests
Interests include driving and using tax efficient saving. I currently drive a Tesla Model 3 which I acquired in March 2025. This is a fabulous car with very low maintenance costs, and with "fuel" costing less than 2p per mile. The most interesting feature of the car is that virtually everything is controlled by the Touch Screen, including opening the glove box. I have added a supplemental screen to the Tesla computer which displays Apple CarPlay.
Governments took 20% VAT on the extra cost of EVs over petrol, and to encourage EV ownership, offered no car tax and no additional charges. Now the thieving Governments have reneged on the deal and charge over £200 car tax and and a proposed extra 3p/mile driven.
As well as the interests listed on this website, I have a keen interest in popular music and regularly attend concerts, both locally in Portsmouth at venues such as the Guildhall and Kings Theatre, and further afield in London and around the country. I enjoy a wide range of artists and groups, including Bob Dylan, Pink Floyd, Coldplay, Katy Perry, Taylor Swift, Beyoncé, Girls Aloud, Ellie Goulding and Nadine Coyle. I also enjoy tribute bands, particularly Rumours of Fleetwood Mac, as well as Aussie Floyd and Brit Floyd, who pay tribute to Pink Floyd. In addition to live music, I am also a fan of musical theatre.
I recently gave up my hobby of target shooting and sold my air-rifles on Guntrader which is an excellent site, and I feel safer since I no longer own guns of any kind.