My childhood was spent in London, a stone’s throw from the Thames, which gave me a love of boats. Perhaps as well, because polio at the age of two meant that school sports were difficult. My early years were spent building and sailing small dinghies. 

After teaching science and sailing in Sydney, Australia for two terms, I studied Engineering and Economics at Oxford and became a Chartered Accountant at the firm of Peat Marwick. I then joined the Royal Dutch Shell Group, being sent almost immediately to Mozambique, just after independence and at the time of the crisis in Zimbabwe and the Lancaster House talks. As Finance and then General Manager of one of the few businesses still operating, Maputo was full of interesting people and issues, with Robert Mugabe as our neighbour. 

Subsequently, while living in Canada, my wife Georgie and I decided that Northamptonshire was the place for us, and have since spent thirty two happy years in this County. We have two children; Ralph and Guy. Ralph is a Consultant Paediatrician and Guy designs for Cartier in Paris. 

I have travelled extensively for work, in many different roles. After my last job in Shell, as head of Group Risk Management, I decided to do something more local to Northamptonshire. 

I am lucky enough to have been a governor of the University of Northampton through the time of decision and building of the inspired new Waterside Campus. I have also been on the Board and Chairman of the Audit Committee at Northampton General Hospital and Mental Health Matters, and have been involved with a number of other Charities and organisations both local and national. As Chair of the industry and commerce group of Deputy Lieutenants for Northamptonshire, the way that businesses and the wider community can interact most effectively to support each other, is of particular interest.

For more information on the Northamptonshire High Sheriff, please see the website: www.highsheriffnorthamptonshire.com