In 1966 I started skydiving after 6 years of motor cycle racing. The wife said I had to take up a safe sport! After waiting 3 weeks for the weather to clear, and a few days before my 35th birthday, I did my first parachute descent at Thruxton in August 1966.

Since then I have amassed some 1600 parachute descents and represented Great Britain at five world Parachute meetings as Head of Delegation.   This, of course, took me to many parts of the world. I was test jumper for the Irvin Parachute Company for seven years.  This was, to say the least, a little fraught.

In 1970, with Scotty, I entered the African championships training jumps in Delport,

Rhodesia and the Championships in Zomba Malawi.  We ended our trip at  Springs, Johannesburg for fun jumps.

I was elected to the British Parachute Association council in 1973, was vice chairman from 1983 until 1986, and chairman from 1997 until 2001 when I was given life membership of the association for services to sport parachuting. 

In 2000 Sport England awarded me a medal for services to sport, and the Royal Aeroclub awarded me a silver medal in 2001, again for services to sport parachuting,

My two sons have been very successful in the sport.  My eldest, Chris, represented Gt. Britain in world championships and has a few medals. 

My younger son, Derek, has well over 6000 jumps has also represented Gt. Britain at world championships.  He has more medals than I have had hot dinners!! He has also been in the last four massive world records.

My two daughters, Debra and Sarah, have also skydived as well as my son-in-laws and daughter-in-laws, plus my grandson is now taking over winning medals.