Born, grew up and educated on The Wirral, Cheshire,, till 18..then went first to Swansea for university and on to London for work. Worked for thirty two years as a secondary school history teacher, seventeen of them in senior leadership, including eight years as a headteacher in two east London secondary schools. Was a Fulbright exchange teacher in Los Angeles 1989/1990. Took early retirement from teaching in 2009 and retrained in horticulture with the RHS 2010- 2013. Work as a self employed gardener and also an A' Level History tutor for private students. Have two grown up kids.