Brought up in Huddersfield, West Yorkshire, upon leaving school I spent four years as a Merchant Navy deck officer, travelling the world on a variety of ships. After giving up the seafaring life, I completed a BSc in Maritime Studies at Liverpool Polytechnic and began writing for a shipping magazine. I then embarked on an itinerant career in journalism and PR, which has taken me into diverse markets including road transport, grocery retailing, electrical contracting, industrial automation and utilities. I actually worked as a reporter for Motor Transport in my 20s and in August 2009 returned to the paper as editor. My main hobby is motorcycling but I also enjoy cycling and walking, and have undertaken a number of charity challenges including Transaid’s Cycle Tanzania in 2010.