Son of a Shipyard Worker from Greenock, Scotland. Married with two adult children. Lives in Basildon, Essex.
Left school in 1979 and had a variety of jobs including banking and Ford Motor Company before joining the Prison Service in 1989 as a Prison Officer at HMP Chelmsford and promoted to Senior Officer in 1997 and transferred to HMP Bullwood Hall. He held positions on the local branch committees at both prisons as the POA Branch Secretary. In 2001 he worked at HMP Pentonville as a Senior Officer and temporary promoted Principal Officer.
POA National Official
2000 – 2001 Assistant Secretary
2002 – 2003 National Vice Chairman
2003 – 2006 Re-elected to National Vice Chairman
2006 – 2010 Elected National Finance Officer
2010 – Present Day Elected General Secretary
