Extended Bio
My parents gave me a love of the outdoors and nature through holidays to the coast and countryside all over the UK. In school and the Scouts I was introduced to wild camping, expeditions, caving and rock-climbing. A keen cyclist, I was an “early adopter” of mountainbikes.
In the early 90s, at Newcastle University I was a terrible secretary of the mountaineering club but an improving climber. Trips all over Northern England, Wales, Scotland and the French and Swiss Alps punctuated my studies. I began to break into the extreme rock-climbing grades and enjoy Scottish winter climbing.
I completed teacher training (in geography and outdoor activities) at Leeds University where I began to gain outdoor leadership qualifications and co-led a young people's expedition to the Cordillera Apolobamba, Bolivia.
Since 1994 I’ve taught in many areas of mainstream and alternative education. I’ve been involved in all kinds of outdoor, environmental and personal development activities. I’m a keen advocate of learning outside the classroom.
Throughout, I’ve continued to get outside climbing, hillwalking and running, canoeing, caving and cycling - competitively and for fun. I’ve enjoyed trips all over Great Britain, to the USA, Scandinavia, Mainland Europe and the Scottish Hebrides and spent many nights in bivi bags and tents.
Since 2009 I’ve completed a degree in wildlife and conservation, gained paddlesport, mountainbike leader, Duke of Edinburgh Award assessor, Forest School, National Standard cycle and Local Cave and Mine Leadership qualifications.
