Treasurer & Administrator for the Central Herts Group

I graduated in 1984 with a degree in Engineering and got married a year later.
Between 1986 and 2001 I worked as an IT professional for a number of companies. With hindsight, I attribute my frequent changes of employer during this period to bipolar disorder.

I was diagnosed with bipolar disorder in 1996 and was hospitalised for a short period. I was divorced in 2001, my ex-wife making several references to my bipolar disorder in her divorce petition. The three children of the marriage now live with her in USA.

I have been well for a number of years experiencing only mild highs and lows. I attribute this to three factors: faith in Jesus Christ, Lithium and Olanzapine.

Between 2005 and 2007, I was a befriending volunteer with Mind. I joined the West Herts self-help group in the autumn of 2006 and was a member of the committee between early 2007 and April 2009.

My recovery allowed me to take on the role of group facilitator of the new Central Herts self-help group, which I started in October 2008. Under the mentoring of Dr Straughan, I have been able to develop new skills in this role.
I am now the group’s Administrator and Treasurer.

My ‘day job’ is with the ambulance service: I have been a patient transport driver since May 2007.