1.
I was born in Singapore, but brought up in a quiet seaside town on the east coast of Scotland called Montrose, in the county of Angus. A town where people are referred to as Gable Endies and the football scores concerning the town usually start or end with Montrose nil!
2.
At the age of ten I went to live in the Aden in the Middle East for three years with the rest of my family when my dad, who was in the RAF, was posted there. An amazing place to live where you went to school six days a week starting at 7:00am and ending at midday, which allowed the afternoons free to go swimming in warm waters of the Red Sea.
3.
I had my moment of fame when I was asked for my autograph by someone who had seen me playing at a club in Leicester with my band Matt Black in the early seventies. Never been back to Leicester since but I am still an avid Leicester City FC supporter.
4.
I worked for the same company in the Perfumery and Flavours industry for 40 years. Firstly, as a chemist in R&D before transferring into Purchasing. This gave me the opportunity to travel the world sourcing essential oils and natural chemicals. A brilliant job.
5.
I am a known Vexillophile (a collector of flags) and boast a collection of 46 with the criteria that I had to spend at least one overnight stay in the country before the flag could be added to my collection.