My Biography

The Early Years (1955-1960)

I was born on December 14, 1955 in Wigan, Lancashire. As my parents' first child I was born in hospital in Billinge. It's debatable whether Billinge is part of Wigan, but not with me.

For the first four years of my life we lived in Wigan. I can remember vaguely the house in Stirling Street but only just.

The School Years (1960-1974)

We moved to Leyland, Lancashire as my father worked for Leyland Motors, as it was then. We moved into 179 Fox Lane, Leyland.

Because we moved fairly late in the year I couldn't get a place at the nearest primary school, but got a place at St James C of E Primary School at Moss Side. This was something like a mile and a half from where we lived, but there was a regular school bus and later I used to cycle to school.

I spent seven reasonably happy years there, and at the age of 11 passed my eleven plus and started Grammar School in 1967.

I was at Balshaws Grammar School through into the Upper Sixth and A levels. I started to play Rugby Union and played for the school at each level up to the first team. I played cricket for the school as well, though it must be said with more enthusiasm than ability.

I managed to con the examiners into giving me 9 O levels and 3 A levels and got a place at the University of East Anglia, Norwich.

The University Years (1974-1977)

Academically it could have been better. I played rugby mainly for the Rams (the 4th team) but would play for the 3rds and the 2nds if the Rams didn't have a game. I also played a couple of times for Norwich Lions(?) in midweek games. I managed to play cricket for the University 2nd team in my first year. But only because the captain lived on my corridor and knew I would turn out if he needed one more man.

I drank rather a lot, at least it seems that way now, and I met Alison Jane Hicks. Now, 23 years on, she's Alison Jane Pilkington.

The Work Years (1977-1999 and beyond)

I spent a year in Leyland working for British Leyland (Leyland Motors that was) before finally getting a job in London so that I could be with Alison.

I had the job of Assistant to the Financial and Management Controls Accountant at Kings College Hospital, Denmark Hill. For most, if not all of the time we lived in Fulham in a bed-sit in Hurlingham, Gardens.

My other jobs, and where we lived at the time are shown below.