I was very fortunate in having parents who encouraged my interest in natural history. This started with jars full of caterpillars, hence my continuing interest in moths, and visits to Spurn Point whilst holidaying on the Yorkshire coast. I did a degree in Zoology at Newcastle University and then went straight to work for the British Antarctic Survey as a seabird and seal research assistant on Bird Island, South Georgia for three fantastic years. The first birds I ringed were Wandering Albatrosses.
I was then employed by KTNC, as was, as summer warden at Sandwich Bay. This morphed into warden at SBBO, funding for this coming from the then Manpower Services Commission.
I then moved on through various jobs including temporary assistant warden at Stodmarsh NNR before training as a science teacher. I started teaching in Battle where I became heavily involved with the Rye Bay Ringing Group near Icklesham. Amongst other experiences this gave me were running ringing courses in Colombia and Bangladesh.
I was eventually employed to manage the reserve near Icklesham until that project came to an end and I returned to the Sandwich area.
