Biography
After spending most of time playing sport or the drums at Isleworth Grammar School (mainly rugby and athletics) rather than studying, I enrolled on the BA (Hons) Law course at Ealing College of Higher Education, now the University of West London.
My A Level results weren’t that great so my headmaster found me a place at Ealing for which I was very grateful. Ealing was enormous fun – my best memory is meeting my wife at the Law Society disco!
The College encouraged me to apply for a scholarship for an LL.M at UCL – and it was accepted! They also gave me some part-time lecturing whilst doing my LL.M. This experience helped to secure a full-time lecturing post at Preston Polytechnic (now University of Central Lancashire) which was just ramping up its Law degree programme. I could also play1st XV rugby with international players at Preston Grasshoppers and the local BBC station trained me up as a freelance radio journalist.
My next jobs were Head of Law at Leeds Polytechnic (now Leeds Becket University), founder Member of the Legal Aid Board, and eventually Acting Dean of Leeds Business School. I wrote a few books, joined PA Consulting Group as a Management Consultant then was offered a position as HR Director for Bristow Helicopters.
I moved within the Bristow Group for 16 years ending up as Regional Director Asia Pacific for 7 years looking after a large fleet of helicopters and fixed wing aircraft in Asia based in Perth, Australia.
Back in the UK I’m working in the family business, occasional aviation journalist Member of the Board of the Family Mediation Council and Chair of South West London Law Centres.
Travelling to very remote parts of Asia & Africa was the highlight of my career – meeting wonderful staff and local communities. The most touching leaving gift came from a very remote Aboriginal School I visited. Bristow Australia supported the school and sponsored the first ever visit by them outside of their community to Sydney. Each student painted a picture for me in their unique Aboriginal style which was collated by the School in a folder for me.
The most challenging moment of my career so far? Businesses go in cycles and I have had to manage down cycles as well as enjoying the good times – hard decisions have to be made and people do suffer. I always recall those moments when bidding for work as others depend so much on you being successful.
I never planned when I was a student to be running a helicopter and aviation business in places like Sakhalin (Russia), PNG and South Korea, or Broome (WA, Australia): the opportunities arose and I hopefully made the most of them - as I’m doing now with great enjoyment as Chair of the Open University Students Association!