I spent a year at SEEVIC 6th form and then started an apprenticeship with the GPO as it was known as in those days. I met Barry Goddard (Bassist with Time Will Tell) at Technical College while I was an apprentice on day release . This was a totally mad time we would be in the pub for our morning tea break then again at lunch time .We also attended residential courses at Bletchley park .(Home of 'Station X' During the second word war where the German Enigma code was cracked). I had a Mark II Ford Cortina In which I had several near misses but I finally succeeded in totaling it on the Pitsea Flyover after bouncing between the crash barriers a few times. It finally came to rest only to be rammed by a Jag travelling in the outside lane . Luckily I was only bruised but the car was a write off .

By this time I had discovered that Barry played the bass so with me on the keyboards & Steve on guitar we had the beginnings of a band . We advertised for a Drummer and made a four piece with Neil on the Drums . We performed locally including what used to be known as the Travellers Joy in Rayleigh, Zero Six & the YMCA in Chelmsford .At this at this stage I had up-graded my keyboards and now used a Multimoog, a Moog opus 3 and a Roland Juno 6

Steve was now at university UEA so we didn’t see much of him except for the holiday periods . Barry myself and Neil did a one off concert as a three piece in Southend . On a visit home Steve announced that he had become a Christian . I thought that the stress of studying for his degree had finally pushed him over the edge . I decided that it was possibly a passing phase until a time later Barry also announced that he was a Christian .Steve and Barry had become busy with their Christian Life styles .Also during this period both had now married. ( Not to each other ) We gradually drifted apart to the extent that I was unaware of Barry’s illness (see Bassist link ) and also the Birth of his daughters .

I made new friends and joined a BSAC diving club in Basildon. I Dived in various locations in the English Channel and the scuttled German high seas fleet at Scapa flow. I Went skiing with a crowd from Basildon to various locations .A friend in the T.A invited me to join his unit for a long weekend in Wales Caving .We explored some live systems with a guide and had to drop into an underground river fast flowing and about waist deep (Boy it was cold ). I also did a parachute jump for charity. During this period I moved away from home and bought my own flat..

I met my wife Louise through a social club which I belonged to. Initially I had no intention of becoming involved with Louise and regarded her more as a friend but over a period of time we became closer and about 2 years after meeting  we got Married in 1988. I settled down into married life . One day out of the blue Barry invited us to a Barbecue at the Haven in Rayleigh. This event was put on by his church. I really enjoyed it and afterwards we were invited to attend an ALPHA course on Tuesday evenings. At that time Tuesdays were already busy but Madeline who Louise had met through anti-natal classes advised us that ALPHA was being run on a Wednesday at Thundersley Congregational Church were she attended .

We visited TCC where we were introduced to Vince Carrington. We took an instant liking to him and signed up for the Alpha course . The course was informal with tea and coffee served . Vince took the course which each week looked at different areas of the life of Jesus and what he stood for. Up till then I had only seen Bibles in old English which I found an instant turn off. We were issued with NIV (New International Version) Bibles which were in modern English. I was amazed to read the account in ISIAH which although written 400 years or more before the coming of Christ describes the actual events that were to take place. Another thing which struck me was the reaction of the Disciples when Jesus was crucified and again when he was resurrected . At this time I also read some books by CS Lewis who had originally been an atheist. I realised that as bizarre as it seemed that Jesus really had died for me and gave my life to Christ .

After this myself and Louise attended TCC (Thundersley Congregational Church ). I was contacted by Steve regarding a Christian band which was run by Andy Thorn . Since then after various changes of drummer and Andy having to leave due to commitments elsewhere we now have the current line up.