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I was born on 9 September 1961 in Gosforth, just
outside Newcastle, England. I spent my formative years in Newcastle, during which I
acquired a good education and a lifelong interest in aviation and the countryside. I was
educated at the Newcastle Royal Grammar School, which during my time there was forced to
choose between becoming independent (fee-paying and selective) or comprehensive (fully
subsidised but obliged to take all pupils of all abilities) - one of the worst events in
the history of British education. The RGS chose the better of the two
options and became independent. I studied Mathematics at Oxford for
three years, then became an accountant (in the hope that it might
one day lead to something better!). After a few years it hadn't, so
I joined Johnson Matthey, the precious metals company, with whom I travelled to
lots of places worldwide. After one of these trips (to Malaysia), I took a fortnight's
holiday in the Philippines, where I met Ivy. The rest is history .....
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