I joined LDAS in 2005 after attending the May star party but have been interested in astronomy since junior school. My earliest memories of space are the Skylab and Viking missions from the 1970s, the Pioneer and Voyager probes, as well as more recent events include the 1999 solar eclipse and Transit of Venus.

In the 1990s I returned to learning via an Access to Higher Education course at college and then at the University of Huddersfield following the English Studies degree course where I specialised in literature and creative writing.

My main astronomy interests are general observing / binocular astronomy and visits to sites of astronomical interest.

Other interests and hobbies include reading (various non-fiction subjects for study, crime fiction and thrillers for enjoyment), history (especially the classical, medieval and renaissance periods), and outdoor pursuits including walking and birdwatching.