Cerebral palsy girl Tjili, 15, gets paintings in major London exhibition

When Starlings attack! Noisy snatch & grab raid

A bit about me. Forgive me if you get bored.

Experienced features photographer working regularly for The Sun, Mail On Sunday and Sunday Express, among other titles, as well as several women's magazines and large local authorities. Also accomplished PR and Corporate photographer and advisor for many companies across the UK.

History: Began writing for local rags at Applemore school (Dibden, Hampshire) in 1975. Own wildlife column (words and pix) published monthly by age 16. Covering local news stories from age 17. Had front page splash stories in regional evening paper (Southern Daily Echo) by age 18.

Created UK's first Youth Newspaper ('Imprint') at age 19. Did writing, photos, typesetting and design, plus got the advertisers! We received national BBC TV coverage. 

Guest presenter (on wildlife) on Southern TV's networked Saturday morning show Saturday Banana (see Wikipedia) in teens. That was the short-lived kids show presented by then Goodie Bill Oddie.

Continued wildlife photography, wildlife feature-writing (Hampshire Magazine) and news-story writing into twenties, getting the front cover of BBC Wildlife Magazine and several inside page pics/words.

Worked at Hythe Photo Services for five years, as photographer and graphic designer.
Became Chairman of NUJ Southern Freelance branch during that period.

Sunday Mirror's southern region photographer for over two years, (when Alan Baird was pic ed and Russell Cox deputy) working on many exclusive splash stories, regularly teaming up with reporters Andrew Golden, Wensley Clarkson, Martin Brunt & Linda McKay. Began freelancing for a Southampton-based news/pics agency in early 1980's, run by the great Peter Wightman. On-off relationship over the years as agency changed hands. Was on staff, then director and picture editor, leaving in Feb 2012. 

Have had front page pics in every UK national, including exclusive arrest of 'missing' canoe man John Darwin, which made almost every front.

Also got exclusive pic of then Portsmouth FC boss Avram Grant leaving a brothel - made Sun splash and spread.

In my other life I collect original movie/TV props. Have operated and voiced Daleks on BBC and ITV. I own what is thought to be the oldest original BBC Dalek.

At the moment, my time is divided between helping care for my dear old Mum, who is now confined to an armchair at a Nursing Home, unless someone gets two of the carers to help her into a wheelchair so she can go to the lounge.  She has little use of any of her limbs, after numerous falls over an eight year period. 

Being forced, like so many thousands of others, to move into a care home meant she had to sell her lovely little house. Since moving in, her condition has worsened and she now requires 'full nursing care' which is charged at just under £1,000 per week. 

That comes out of her own savings, in case you were wondering. Once you're out of the NHS system, they really don't want to know about you. You can get a couple of small allowances but nothing more.

After months of letters and phone calls, I finally managed to get an NHS physiotherapist to come in once a week, to help Mum exercise her painful legs by giving her an assisted walk (with a second physio) on a walking frame, for a few yards up the corridor and then back to her armchair. It may not be much, but both girls are wonderful and much appreciated.

If I'm not helping feed Mum her meals (she cannot hold implements) or wheeling her around the home, or the home's gardens, I'm able to work as a news and feature photographer, writer,  as well as keeping PR clients happy, with shoots across the country.