In early 2010, I met Gemma, an amazing person and surely one of the kindest people in the world. From early on in our relationship, I got her out and about on the tops and she loved it. Since then, we’ve hiked all over the world together and had some incredible adventures. Most of them are captured on this site. 

I’ve been fortunate enough to have a long and successful teaching career. Although I arrived in teaching inadvertently (mix-up on my university application), it turned out to be the profession for me. In 2005, after a decade of teaching, I won the National Primary School Teacher of the Year award. I have taught in 5 of the 7 continents and I have been published a number of times in various geographical magazines, and in national and local newspapers. These articles are mostly related to teaching and geographical research that I have undertaken. However… with age comes wisdom and the time for real reflection and it appears teaching was always on the cards. My late mother was phenomenal at inspiring children and excelled at every rank in the leadership of Brownies and Rainbows right up to county commissioner. My sister was for years a brilliant secondary teacher, mainly of dance. More recently she retrained as an awesome child play therapist. Even my grandfather was a much-revered headteacher, after his time in the military. I also had some amazing teachers growing up (and some awful ones), the best being Mr Blamey, my A-Level Geography teacher. So, I realise I am indebted to many people, including many of the colleagues I’ve taught alongside over the years, the leaders who have encouraged me and, of course, the wonderful communities and pupils who’ve inspired me. Despite these accolades and achievements, I like to think that I have remained humble throughout. 

Obviously, I spend an inordinate amount of time in mountainous regions. It started with an incessant need to climb all of the Wainwrights in the Lake District, but it's spiralled out of control since then! I also love the coast, especially the coast in the homeland. I also enjoy city breaks and have been to some beautiful cities all over the world. I like to explore the historical stories of cities. My idea of a nightmare holiday is flying to a sunny resort in Lanzagrotti or Ibiza, and lying about by a pool. Not only do I get extremely nervous when in an aircraft, but I much prefer temperate and cold, to tropical and hot. 

I’m a keen musician and I play the piano and the drums. Music is very important to me and I enjoy listening to and composing music. Books are equally important. I’m an avid reader of both fiction and non-fiction. Books are among the extremely limited number of things that can make me sit still. 

I like to think that I don’t take life too seriously. Quite often, either when I’m feeling detached or I’m with like-minded souls (Andy and Glyn mostly), I recognise and celebrate the absurdity in life. One of my favourite quotes is from the German-Swiss novelist and poet Herman Hesse, who said about life, ‘Learn what is to be taken seriously and laugh at the rest.’ I’m not ‘laid back’ by any means. In fact, I’m prone to charging around at a frenetic pace. I like getting things done and I detest procrastination and lateness. I get bored easily and like to make the most of my time. Carpe Diem.

I have no fear of death. That isn’t to say I am reckless or that I don’t value life; the opposite in fact. When you hold your wife’s hand as she dies, you recognise how precious life is. I will cherish everything I experience, however when my time is up, I will not be afraid. 

Updated - Oct 2025