My wife Marianne and I originate from The Hague in The Netherlands, we are still Dutch as The Netherlands does not allow more than one passport. Having studied aircraft systems I joined a government research station. After getting married in the late sixties we moved to Italy where I started work in the SACLANT ASW Research Center and Marianne taught French in a local school. For three years we lived near the Cinqueterre in Liguria where we had a wonderful time. Our first son was born in the hospital of a US armoured division in Marina di Pisa. When an opportunity arose to join a NATO HQ in the UK in 1971 we moved to Buckinghamshire and after short spells in Chesham and Ashley Green settled in Amersham where our second son was born.

I retired in 2022 and joined the Citizen Advice Bureau as a volunteer, initially as a benefit adviser followed by advising people in debt and eventually representing people in the Employment Tribunal. Our oldest son has settled in New Zealand and as he has 3 children we ‘need’ to travel there as often as we can. Our second son lives close to us, he has 2 children and runs a small educational company.


Chair (u3achair@chiltern-u3a.org.uk)

The first point of contact for Chiltern u3a (Cu3a). Gives leadership to the Committee, chairing Committee and other Cu3a meetings, ensuring that all Cu3a functions and activities are run efficiently and effectively. Represents Cu3a in outside forums and in other u3a Head Office and Regional meetings.