Profile
Born in 1975 I grew up in a very loving Christian home and enjoyed learning all things engineering from my Dad, Richard and all things musical from my Mum, Kathryn. I started my education at Pen Mill infants and then moved to Milford Juniors. At the age of six I started playing the guitar and enjoyed anything to do with music. Little did I know that music would eventually become my chosen profession.
My secondary education started at Chilton Cantelo House but unfortunately came to an end at the age of thirteen when the school was closed (not my fault!). I then joined Bucklers Mead to complete my school career. During this time I started playing bass guitar with a local band called ‘Touchstones’ and also played for the Scouts Gang Show that appeared annually in the Octagon Theatre, and with Martock Players and Pantomime Society.
After leaving school I began a youth training scheme in engineering at Yeovil College. After the first year of basic training I was awarded the prestigious title of Apprentice of the Year for the south west, and then went on to secure an apprenticeship with Westland Engineering. My enthusiasm for music continued and I also started taking the occasional guitar pupil.
After successfully completing my engineering apprenticeship I was promoted to the position of production supervisor, believed to be the youngest in Westlands company history. In this same year I also got married to my beautiful wife Amanda. After three years in supervision I moved into a junior management position. During this time I continued to be involved in pantos, gang shows, gigging and other musical events.
Amanda and I were blessed with our first child Robert on Christmas day 2002.
When I left Westland (GKN) in 2003 I was the production manager for the engineering shops where I had served my apprenticeship. I also managed the MOD structural helicopter spares department and was responsible for over one hundred members of staff. I left Westland because I felt that God was calling me to His service, and the pressures and commitments from a management position did not allow me the time or energy that was needed to do God's work.
I was required to give three months notice and during this time I decided to start my own company called DRE Services. This was to do handyman / engineering work and also to progress my lifelong love of music from a hobby into a career. I was extremely blessed and within three months the music side of DRE Services had grown at a far greater pace than I could have ever imagined. This left very little time for any handyman or engineering work and I became fully occupied with all things musical. This ranged from teaching guitar, bass guitar, keyboard / piano and music theory, to session bass playing and band work.
Amanda and I were again blessed in October 2005 with the birth of our second son Joseph. He and his brother now share my love of music and are both enjoying learning several different musical instruments.
Having been self-employed for five years I felt that God was calling me to expand my ministry. I stopped teaching music in schools at the end of the summer term 2008 to allow time to start 'Vine Youth Ministry'. VYM’s vision is to show young people that God loves each one of them, and more details are available at 'Vine Youth Ministry'.
Being the founder and youth pastor of VYM is now a major part of my life, as well as being a fully accredited local preacher within the Methodist Church, and the chief steward at St Marks. Thankfully, all of the above feature music and I still find the time to teach, gig and perform regularly.
God continues to bless my family and it's a joy to be able to serve Him sharing my love of music and the talents that He has given me.
Every Blessing,
