The values of tolerance, freedom of thought and understanding others have, hopefully, helped make me a better person. After shy and diffident start confidence gained at school gave me the ability to converse and relate to all types of people. Friendships forged on “The Island” have endured and flourished.

Academia was not my thing and I worked in various hospitality posts leading up to General Manager with a large hotel group. I became a Samaritan early on and, after retirement, the Director of Festival Samaritans. We attend homeless, Pride, Biker and major music festivals all over the UK, providing emotional support to thousands of people. I’m also on the Swansea prison team training prisoners to be Samaritans trying to reduce the incidence of suicide.

Sic vos Non Vobis has always been at the back of my mind and, although it sounds corny when I write it, having had a relatively good life, I’ve wanted to give something back which I hope I do to a small with my unpaid charity work which is now almost full time.