Born and brought up in West Sussex. Enjoyed a lengthy career in commercial aviation, with British Caledonian at Gatwick and British Airways, including Flight Operations. Ran a small garden design business for ten years. Now volunteer with Citizens Advice in Surrey and The Choral Foundation HM Chapel Royal. Married to Fiona, who works for the NHS. Three grown up children between them and one grandchild. Fiona, Richard and son Oliver moved to Bury in Autumn 2017.