Born in Belfast in 1943 – parents there during WW2. Came back to Bideford in 1945. Sister Jude born next year. Went to Geneva Primary, passed 11+ and went to Bideford Grammar in 1954. Happy childhood and met Louise in 1960.
Read English and History at Southampton Uni, graduating in 1964. Instead of teaching, joined Elliott-Automation as graduate trainee, living in flats in north London. Entered Public Relations department at their central London Head Office. Worked in PR at Astral PR agency, Regent Oil and the SIA computer bureau.
Lived in flat in Manchester Street, W1, dating Louise all the while. (Neighbour was David Bowie.) We married in 1969, living in Greenwich and then Forest Hill, while Louise taught in primary schools in Tower Hamlets and Brixton.
Started MPR agency in 1971, based in Camden Town and later Gray’s Inn Road and West End. Grew it until became one of top ten in UK in late 80s. Treasurer of PR Consultants trade association and elected Fellow of Institute of PR.
Sold MPR to a PLC in 1989. Left after two year ‘earn-out’. Ran an M&A consultancy business from home until joined Communication Skills Europe as shareholder and director of PR training division. We sold to French company Demos and I left a year later. Undertook voluntary assignments for British Executive Service Overseas in Budapest and Perm.
Started Aflame as a PR training company, based in Piccadilly. Ran it until the 2008 financial crisis – then ran it from home. Retired in 2011 when Louise did.
We bought our house in Marsh Gibbon in 1976 and Louise taught in Milton Keynes until Andrew was born in 1977, followed by Nicholas in 1981. Louise taught at Marsh Gibbon primary school, becoming headteacher. Both boys attended Aylesbury Grammar. Andrew read Economics at Keele Uni. Nicholas entered motor industry.
Andrew now lives in Ealing with his partner Elli and is a director of a retail development consultancy. Nicholas married J’Nel and they had Gracie, Rocky and Zebedee. He now lives near Leicester with Sally, his new partner, and he works in procurement in the motor industry.
Elected to Marsh Gibbon Parish Council in 1991 and served 30 years until retiring. Chairman for eight years, until 2019, and led production of Parish Plan and the Neighbourhood Development Plan (45th in the whole country).
Elected as district councillor for Marsh Gibbon on Aylesbury Vale District Council in 1993, until 2007. Was deputy leader of LibDem Group and chaired Strategic Planning Committee, which produced the Aylesbury Vale District Local Plan.
Over the years I played squash, badminton and tennis; and until recently golf twice a week. Play bridge regularly. Have travelled a lot in Europe and North America and in last few years to New Zealand, South Africa, Mauritius, Thailand and Japan.
