The shorter version
The full version is below!
I was born in London and until retirement I worked in the NHS as a Healthcare Scientist, and latterly as a Healthcare Manager.
I am a graduate of The Open University with BA(hons) Humanities - Art History & French.
I have a post-graduate Diploma in Management Studies.
I have now retired from work - I retired from full time work in 2012. For a while after retirement I freelanced for HE Translations, mainly helping with Social Media and marketing.
I volunteered for The Canal & River Trust as a Lock Keeper / Towpath Ranger between retirement and Autumn 2024.
I hold a full UK Car & Motorcycle driving licence.
I am happily married and have grandchildren.
I am an enthusiastic, but fair weather, cyclist. I am a Radio Amateur (GE4SDZ)
We have been cultivating fruit & vegetables on our allotments for many years
I have an interest in film photography using cameras from the 1950s-80s. To keep fit I play competitive pétanque with a local club, and I practice Tai Chi & Quigung with a local group.
My wife and I enjoy travel, particularly within Europe, by train. I enjoy sketching & drawing during our travels (despite my limited talents). I am a member of The Civil Service Club, London. Click here for our family travel blog
The Detail
Academic Qualifications
Post graduate level (& equivalent)
Diploma in Management Studies
DeMontfort University, 1991
IBMS Special Examination – Clinical Chemistry
Institute of Biomedical Sciences, 1980
Graduate level (& equivalent)
BA(hons) Humanities – Art History & French (2:1)
Open University, 2013
Diploma in French
Open University, 2010
HNC Medical Laboratory Sciences (Clinical Chemistry)
Paddington College, London, 1976
‘A’ level equivalent
ONC Sciences (Medical Laboratory Sciences)
Paddington College, London, 1974
GCE (General Certificate of Education)
English, Mathematics, Biology, Chemistry, Physics;
The Stationers’ Company’s School, London 1972
Professional Qualifications
Fellowship of The Institute of Biomedical Sciences 1981 - 2012 (until retirement).
Chartered Scientist status awarded by The Science Council 2004 - 2012 (until retirement).
Associate of The Royal Society of Medicine 2010 - 2012 (until retirement).
Associate of The Institute of Health Services Management 1987 - 1992
EMPLOYMENT HISTORY
Canal and River Trust (East Midlands Region)
2015 - 2022 : Volunteer Visitor Attraction Risk Assessor
2012 - 2024 : Volunteer Lock Keeper / Towpath Ranger
HE Translations (Leicester)
2017- 2022 : Freelance Sales Representative / Social Media Champion (p/t)
LiFE Multi Academy Trust
2021 : Site Lead - Covid19 Testing Centre
2018 - 2021 : Examination Invigilator (casual p/t)
University Hospitals of Leicester NHS Trust
1984 -2012 : Patient Safety Manager.
: Quality & Risk Manager (Compliance; Risk; Litigation - scientific & support services)
: Various managerial & supervisory positions in pathology laboratories (Biomedical Scientist)
Other (NHS: London, Cambridgeshire & Nottinghamshire)
1972 - 1984 : Medical Laboratory Scientist : various trainee, operational & supervisory positions
Short Courses & Miscellaneous Qualifications
NHS Test & Trace
2021 : Self swabbing guidance; Covid test processing; Covid result logging (Innova & Orient);
Infection control & prevention; Test centre meet & greet; Train the trainer (Innova & Orient)
National Counter Terrorism Security Office / Highfield e-Learning / HM Government
2019 : Action Counter Terrorism e-Learning (Counter Terrorism Policing)
2018 : Prevent e-Learning Training Course
Staffordshire University / Insitute of Biomedical Science
2020 : Biomedical Scientist Return to Practice Programme
2004 : Certificate of Extended Practice - Quality Management
The WEA
2021 : Behind the Iron Curtain
FutureLearn
2020 : The Open University (OpenLearn) : Neighbourhood Nature 2019 : University of Strathclyde : Working Lives on Britain's Railways, Railway History & Heritage
2018 : Griffith University (Australia) : Cities of Yesterday, Today & Tomorrow: Why Heritage Conservation Matters
2018 : University of Kent : Politics, Art & Resistance
2018 : International Federation of Red Cross & Red Crescent Societies : Be Ready:Staying Safe During Natural Disasters
2017 : Trinity College, Dublin : Strategies for Successful Ageing
2017 : University of Groningen : Introduction to Frisian
2017 : Cardiff University : Working with Translation
2017 : International Federation of Red Cross & Red Crescent Societies : Introduction to First Aid for Adults
2017 : University of Glasgow : Antiquities Trafficking & Art Crime
2017 : Monash University : Mindfullness for Wellbeing & Peak Performance
2016 : National Museums of Scotland : Stereoscopy: an Introduction to Victorian Stereo Photography
2015 : University of Leicester : Behind the Scenes of the 21st Century Museum
Coursera
2025 : Museum of Modern Art : Modern Art & Ideas 2020 : University of Amsterdam: Unravelling the Cycling City 2018 : University of California, Santa Cruz : History of Russia - From Lenin to Putin
2017 : Museum of Modern Art : Seeing Through Photographs
2016 : Universite de Genève : Introduction aux droits de l’homme
2016 : University of London : English Common Law: Structure and Principles
2015 : Duke University : Sports and Society
2015 : Duke University : Think Again - How to Reason
2014 : University of Edinburgh : Introduction to Philosophy
The Open University
2010 : Starting With Law (Y166)
NHS Skills Development & Training
NHS Core Learning Unit / Skills Academy for Health / University Hospitals of Leicester
2010: Equality & Diversity; Understanding Personal Safety & Security Awareness; NPSA Being Open;
University Hospitals of Leicester / Q-Learning/Leadership Academy
2010 : Leadership Development for Senior Managers
University Hospitals of Leicester / Leicestershire Partnership Trust
2010 : Conflict Resolution & Personal Safety Awareness
University Hospitals of Leicester NHS Trust / Michigan Risk Associates
2009 - 2010 : Root Cause Analysis (Basic, Intermediate, Advanced)
Coventry University (Emergo) / University Hospitals of Leicester NHS Trust
2005 / 2007 / 2010 : Major Incident Management (Emergo)
University Hospitals of Leicester
2008 / 2010 : Child Protection Introduction; Root Cause Analysis; Safeguarding Children; Interview Skills
Safeguarding Children e-Academy / University Hospitals of Leicester
2009 : Awareness of Child Abuse & Neglect - Foundation
University Hospitals of Leicester / NHS Connecting for Health
2008 : Password Management; Information Security Guidelines
Glenfield Hospital NHS Trust / Brainbench
2001 : Netscape; Operations Concepts;
Glenfield Hospital NHS Trust / Mindleaders Academy
2001 : Business Communication - Forms of Writing; Networking Essentials ; Negotiating Techniques ; Computer Security Awareness; Data Warehousing Concepts
Manchester Metropolitan University
1998 : Advanced Internet Training (Level 3)
Institute of Health Services Management
1987 : Certificate Examination
Canal & River Trust
2016 - 2023 : Safeguarding; Acting Safely (Volunteers); Working on or Near Water; Safe Lock Operation; Lone Working;
Manual Handling 'Mind Your Back'; Diversity & Inclusion; Customer Service Success; CAATS for Lock keeping duties
Trust for Conservation Volunteers / Canal & River Trust
2016 : Hedge Laying
British Waterways / KNW Training
2012 : H&S Induction Training East Midlands Chamber of Commerce 2018 : Integrating Social Media into Your Business
Alison.com
2017 : Basic German Language Skills
DuoLingo
2016-7, 2019- 2022 : German
GoHighbrow.com / NHS
2016-7: A Brief History of Architecture ; Groundbreaking Contemporary Artists ; Philosophical Ideas ;Ancient Philosophies; Medieval Philosophies; Renaissance & Modern Philosophies; Heroes of Greek Legend; Significant Futurists ; Street Artists You Should Know
Online Travel Training
2010 /2014 /2016 : Affordable Car Hire ; Great Rail Journeys ; Viking River Cruises ; Botswana Tourism ; Great Southern Rail ; Lounge Pass ; Rail Europe ; Warner Leisure
Animal Aiders
2014 : Dog First Aid
Udemy
2018 : Photography - Ditch Auto; Start Shooting in Manual. 2019 : Composition for the New Photographer
Open2Study
2017 : RMIT University : The Art of Photography
City & Guilds of London / The Home Office
1982 : Amateur Radio Certificate
And what else have I done?
Eaten horsemeat; visited Norway; had kidney stones; driven a Lada; grown Jerusalem Artichokes; sworn in French; owned MZ motorcycles; slept in a tent; toured South Korea; learned Morse code; watched TV in black&white; been on a cruise; built a box kite; visited the Soviet Union; crashed a Ford Escort; had food poisoning; abseiled; been to Seattle; owned a Daf 32; had my tonsils removed; toured a car factory; made cake; Square Danced in Texas; tasted canal water; listened to RNI; seen birth & seen death, driven at 100mph; seen a kidney full of hair; played Go; sketched in Dusseldorf; failed exams; passed exams; visited mortuaries; eaten andouillette (once); taken Citalopram; spoken Esperanto; cried; analysed the fat in faeces; visited Croatia; used Prestel; ridden a Pedersen bicycle; sold stuff on eBay; failed to learn any Italian; been on a ferry across the Mersey; joined (and left) a political party; listened to Pink Floyd; driven in Spain; owned a dog; attended Quaker meetings; canoed along the River Severn; joined a trade union, had Weil's Disease; been a radio DJ; walked around Vilnius; seen Don Williams live; listened to satellite radio; smelled blood; crashed a motorcycle; read poetry; laughed out loud; planted trees; been burned by Nitric Acid; played the cello (badly); lost a credit card in Toronto; married; lived.