I started playing the violin at the age of 7, through school. I was already playing the piano which I started at the age of 4.

I played in the orchestras through the Huddersfield Education Services, which you could start in their Primary orchestra once you had passed the Grade 1 exam.

I eventually passed through the system and by the age of 15, I was leader of the Senior Orchestra under the conductor, Colin Sutcliffe.

After my Secondary education I then attended the Huddersfield Music School, where my violin tutor was Bert Whone.

At the end of my studies I joined the Coldstream Guards as a Musician and led their Orchestra.

Whilst in the forces I studied at the Military music college at Kneller Hall in Twickenham.

Towards the end of my time with the Guards, I was performing regularly around the various Concert Halls in London, also playing at the BBC, as a freelance musician. Once I had left the Guards, I then become a full time performer in the same venues.

Since the late 70s' early 80s' I was engaged as a software technician with several companies and did not perform very much due to time constraints and also starting a family.

All my children were encouraged to join in the music groups at their schools and all of them started to play the violin.

It was their first violin tutor who put me in touch with the Harrow Symphony Orchestra, after I had played in various educational establishments with the Hillingdon Music Schools' Staff Orchestra.

I have been with the Harrow Symphony Orchestra for about 5 - 6 years, becoming leader in 2001, after our then leader left to take a sabbatical in Australia.