I was born in Wellington Somerset. Where at the age of 10 I took up the trombone in the local silver band. Studying music at school it looked like a good idea to take it up as a career. So at the age of 16 I passed my audition to join the parachute regiment as a junior musician. Only to be told a few months before joining they wanted me to play clarinet. A new challenge! Progressing well I joined 3 Para band playing either 2nd or 3rd parts 3 years of off beats later a new challenge was required. So when our Oboe player left a knock on the bandmaster's door led to me learning Oboe. After studying at Kneller hall (Royal military school of music) for 2 years I went back to my band. When a vacancy for an Oboe came up at the staff band the Royal Corps of Transport I transferred. 1994 saw a big change in the Army and after being offered redundancy I took it. No trade - it was off to collage to learn instrument repairs at Merton collage. 2 years later leaving with City and guilds certificate in musical instrument repair (advanced) I joined Hickies music shop in Reading. A chance meeting in a kebab shop in Aldershot in 2001 of my old band sergeant major, meant a going back to my roots, tenor horn was my choice but after 2 weeks promotion to Bb bass (or demotion which ever way you want to look at it). 2003 saw me at college on a Tuesday evening so band practice at Sandhurst had to stop. So here I am at Haslemere