Educated at Bishop Auckland Grammar School, I have lived in Bishop Auckland for the past thirty years. I specialise in Commercial Law, having qualified in 1979, and have an active commercial practice based in Bishop Auckland.

I have been a Director of the Wear Valley Development Agency since 1995, Chairman of the WVDA Board for the last two years and have been newly appointed as Chairman for the Enterprise Agency for Wear Valley and Teesdale.

I have two daughters, both of whom work at my office. I enjoy keeping fit, cycling and entertaining. I also love to cook but I’m no Gordon Ramsay!