Born in the late 1950’s, David’s early schooling and education was in Tameside and later at Leeds Metropolitan University studying Sport and Recreation. His two main focusses in life since the age of 13 have been the Air Training Corps, now the Royal Air Force Air Cadets and sport/outdoor pursuits.
Joining the Air Training Corps was a life changing experience for him, giving opportunity, leadership and the camaraderie with like mind people.
Over many years he has been involved in raising money for many charities both local and nationally, walking the Pennine Way, completing the 3 Peaks challenge in 24hrs, street collections and more recently a member of Tameside Rotary raising funds for many local causes.
As a cadet he had many opportunities, besides the normal activities undertaken and was fortunate to be granted a gliding scholarship and became a glider pilot at 16. A 10-day camp in Berlin visiting East Berlin going through the famous “Check Point Charlie” into the Russian Sector, attending the first cadet parachute course at Western on the Green and attaining Gold Duke of Edinburgh’s Award, were just some of the experiences the Air Training Corps gave him.
After leaving school his first employment was with Unilever “Fats and Oils Division” where he spent the next 20 years working at various factories in the UK working his way up the management ladder (National Distribution Manager) until before leaving to start a new career.
He took a 2-year gap when he left Unilever to commence training for sport and outdoor education, undertaking many instructor and coaching qualifications and building up experience within this field. He holds around 25 coaching and instructor qualifications from levels 1 to 4 across a wide range of sports and outdoor activities. His second passion was always sport and the outdoors. Within the The Air Training Corps he represented nationally many times against the Army Cadets, Sea Cadets and other national teams accumulating 15 Corps Blues for representation.
His coaching and sports knowledge lead him to work for Oldham Metropolitan Bough Council and later Oldham Community Leisure in sports development and facilitates management, engaging with the people of Oldham delivering healthy lifestyles. He retired in 2012 as Training and Development Director.
Commissioned in May 1981 into the Royal Air Force Volunteer Training Branch as a pilot officer during the next 36 years he supported and commanded a number of Air Training Corps Squadrons in the Greater Manchester area delivering the cadet experience at grass roots level. He was promoted to Squadron Leader and appointed as Physical Education Officer for East Lancashire Wing and then Physical Education Officer for the North of England, encompassing some 8000 cadets facilitating sport regionally and nationally.
Promoted to Wing Commander in 2015 he took command of Greater Manchester Wing Royal Air Force Cadets, the largest wing in the organisation in both personnel and number of cadet units, providing direction, leadership and the strategic vision to both grow and embed change ensuring that the delivery of all activities were safe yet giving young people great opportunities. He undertook a 5-year campaign to save the “Armoury” ex-army reserve centre in Ashton Under Lyne to be used as a GM Wing Training Centre securing funding and a tenure for the next 25 years.
In February 2023 he stood down as Officer Commanding Greater Manchester Wing and took up a 4-year post as Combined Cadet Force (CCF) (RAF Sections) Liaison for the North of England working on the amalgamation of ATC Squadrons and CCF (RAF) Sections.
In 1993 he was awarded the cadet forces medal and subsequently 5 bars, QGJM, QDJM, QPJM and KCMed.