It was almost inevitable that I would end up with a camera in my hand. My mother was a ballerina who became a ballet teacher when she grew too tall to dance in the corps de ballet and my father trained as a commercial artist and commercial photographer. His passion was ballroom dancing. They met, fell in love, married, and I was the result.

From their point of view it was a good working combination. Dad provided the photographic skills, and mum provided the models, among them five pupils who went on the dance with the Bluebell Girls and a young budding actress / model called Shirley Ann Field.

By the time I was seven I had that camera and was developing a keen interest in photographing architecture, particularly churches and other sacred buildings. By the time I was in my late teens I had gained professional dance qualifications and planned a career on the stage. Sadly it was not to be. I suffered a serious injury and was advised not to risk further injury so I turned to my second career choice - not photography, but tourism. I didn't stay there long.