I started flying for my private pilots' license in Shoreham, Sussex 1969 while working as a civil servant in Guildford, Surrey, then got married and headed for Australia in 1972 on an assisted passage scheme at a cost of £10 if I remember correctly. My first wife followed shortly after with our first born named Tania.

We both earned enough money iron ore mining in W. Australia for me to take a Commercial Pilots license and Instructors rating in 1974.

After becoming a flying instructor in 1975, I taught basic flying for a time at Jandakot Airport, Perth, Western Australia.

I then joined the "Royal Flying Doctor Service" in 1976 as a captain and was stationed in Carnarvon, Meekatharra, and Perth.

During my service with the RFDS, I studied for my Airline Transport Pilots Licence in 1978.

In 1980 I joined "Kendell Airlines" (Ansett Group) as a commander flying passengers between Melbourne, Sydney, Adelaide and the Tasmania region. During 1984 we returned to Europe and I flew Air Ambulance and local passenger transport in Finmark, N Norway, then military transport all around Norway for Busy Bee (Braathens Safe Group)

In 1993, I moved to Denmark and flew under the flag of British Airways for some years.

My career finished in Athens, Greece 2002 flying mostly holidaymakers and business groups to the Greek islands and into Italy.

Approaching 60 and into my last few years as a commercial pilot, it seemed appropriate to do something else with my life, so with my new Thai wife Suchada, we decided to buy a small hotel in Tenby, an area from where my father came, and from where I have many happy memories. We live here today with our two lovely daughters Sabrina and Elizabeth.

Suchada comes from Si Sa Ket, located about 571 km. from Bangkok, Si sa ket is one of the most well-known destinations in North Eastern Thailand. Noted for its numerous Khmer style religious temples scattered all over the province.

A quiet region located in Suchada the valley of the Mun River, a tributary of the Mekong. The area is well known for its exquisite bamboo handicrafts and for souvenirs including silk and cotton fabrics exclusively from Amphoe Uthumphon Phisai.

It seems fitting that coming from Silk country, Suchada should work for Jim Thompson, one of the largest and most exclusive silk retailers in S.E. Asia.

This is where Suchada comes from (Click Here)

Suchada has also been working for Thai traditional dance companies throughout Thailand and overseas. Costumes worn in these dance performances are mostly made from high quality pure Thai silks.