Born in Kent and lived there for 9 days (G) then moved back to London. Had a happy (If uneventful)17 years there – completely messing up my schooling! Joined the army when Mum & Dad moved out of London. (Think they did it deliberately – six months after I joined, they moved back!). Biggest benefit – the army knocked the corners off, helped me travel extensively at taxpayers expense, and taught me to dive! After 9 years of jumping out of perfectly serviceable aircraft, my wife Fran thought it was about time we found a normal life – so I joined Sussex Police! Fran unfortunately died of cancer in 1998, leaving me with two smashing kids and no idea of what to do next. (See below) My interest in archaeology was sparked by reading Michener’s ‘The Source’ on a long flight back from Kenya. diving led to involvement in the early (Alex McKee) days of the ‘Mary Rose Project’. After Frans death I went back to diving and am now a member of the ‘Nautical Archaeology Society’.
I now know what I’m doing next. Retirement looms in May 2002 and with encouragement from the ‘NAS’ permanent staff, I’ve applied to several Uni’s to read for a degree in Archaeology. I’m also involved in NAS training courses and projects with the ‘Hants and Wight Trust for Maritime Archaeology’.
The architecture bit? I’m also a (Non-anorak wearing) railway modeller, and love making buildings, which requires an understanding of architecture and it’s historical development. Major benefit is – they don’t have to move/require electricity… Found the TTFF in Jan 2002 and love every minute of it.
Special Interest Areas
Period still under development -probably anything from Saxon to Medieval.
Areas – Maritime and architectural Archaeology