I got into keeping tropical fish as a hobby in September of 1968, being told it’s a fad, but after 42 years find I am still active in the hobby. I joined my local club Uxbridge and district in 1969 and over the next few years my interest grew particularly with help from aquarists like Ron Forder, Terry and Doris Cruickshank and my first employer Tom Summers, who ran Hayes Aquatics in West London. My knowledge and interest in keeping fish grew steadily and while still a junior I was being trained as a C class judge for the F B A S.

I was a member of The British Aquarists Study Society and I regularly attended meetings at London Zoo.  I was one of the first members of the catfish group in West London which became the Catfish Association of Great Britain. I was a member of Thames Valley Catfish Group which is now known as the Southern Counties Catfish Rescue Society. I am also a founder member of the Southern Livebearers Aquarist Group, a member of The British