The story so far

I was born during an air raid in London, August 1944, the only child of Fred & Ivy Head.

I had a fairly typical post WWII  childhood,  my  mother and father who both worked hard to provide  for me, and lots of happy times with cousins and family friends.

During my teen years, I developed a passion for chemistry, springing from the colours, smells and occasional explosions - starting me out on a career spanning 5 decades, 7 job changes, and 2 hemispheres.

I went to Sir John Cass College in London and did Chemistry Special Honours then to East Anglia (UEA) to do an M.Sc in spectroscopic studies and organic synthesis.

Mary and I were married in 1971, and children soon followed.

We arrived in the sunnier climes of Australia in November 1978, for a 3 year stint. We liked it so much here we took the risk of being illegal immigrants for a short while. It all worked out rather well and (37 years later) we are all very happy Australian Citizens, having been neutralised in October 2006.

I chose to leave the so-called Rat Race at the end of October 2004. Unfortunately I failed to do this any sense of style, and actually have become the only person I know who has managed to retire twice in one week. Ask me about it sometime.