ABOUT THE AUTHOR

I was born in Luton, UK, the eldest son of, yes, a Vauxhall Motors plant worker who was married to a hatter’s daughter. When I was five years old, my father decided to strike out for a better life and, accompanied by my supportive mother and baby brother, took us to the Sudan to seek a fortune in the British Empire. Rule Britannia!

Returning after several years to the UK, with fortune in hand, my mother and father invested their hard-earned savings into starting a new business, which still exists today under the direction of my ‘baby’ brother.

Later on, while still studying at university, I was given the chance to be involved in the design of an early remote-sensing system, used for astronomical applications, at the University of British Columbia. Repeated trips, before and after graduation, to Vancouver BC convinced me that North America, especially the West Coast, was where I wanted to be. I once again became the expatriate Englishman.

After several years of working in Canada and Europe, I was given the chance to come to California on a 90-day project. That was in June 1981. I still have not left California, although I did complete that project on time!

Since that time I have continued working on many projects in Silicon Valley, some allowing me to travel elsewhere in the world. This career has allowed me to remain based here in the old-fashioned beach community of Santa Cruz where I make my home with my beautiful Californian wife and family.

I love to spend time running through the harbour and on to the beach, and even occasionally like to take a route through the Santa Cruz Beach Boardwalk with its old-fashioned rides. There I am reminded of my childhood trips to the seaside as I absorb the excited screams of thrilled riders and drink in the aroma of popcorn, hot dogs, ice cream and sunscreen lotion.

Life could be worse!