about me.

I have just completed my second year at UWE, and am about to start an industrial placement year. I will be working with WDS as Junior Software Developer. WDS specialise in IBM Mainframe security, providing software for systems running z/OS.

After uni, I want to work in the embedded arena. Using small processors to monitor and log sensors and creating a network of wireless nodes is something that I am very interested in. I would ideally like to work with the design, build and install of systems that I may be involved with. I think that being a small cog in a big machine really would not suit me. Writing a bit of software to do a specific task, and never actually see it in action would aggravate me.

I am a keen photographer, and will happily return from a weeks holiday with a few thousand photos, putting my favourites up on this site.

A few years ago I was in the college shooting team. Shooting full-bore 7.62mm from up to 1200 yards at Bisley (something I really want to get back into), and small-bore .22" at 25 yards on campus. Having also handled shotguns, rifles and pistols, including the
SA80 - Cadet RifleSA80 while in the CCF

I am facinated by machinery, from lawn mowers all the way to combine harvesters and off land to boats and submarines. The sounds, smell, and thinking behind it drives my mind crazy. I love working out problems.

For the last year I have been the Technician for the UWESU, maintaining the equipment and training up people to continue now that I'm gone. At the beginning of the year I was very involved with Freshers Week. The technical shifts were very demanding, one coming to just over 25 hours. We had many different venues during the week, taking over Oceana in Bristol for one night.

Having been involved with the technical aspect of stage productions from around the age of 13, I found myself on the technical team for the UWE musical stage productions in both my first and second year. Taking the sound single handed in my first year (this year they had 4 people), then this year working backstage and playing the role of "Waiter".

Racing is something I really enjoy. I have been go-karting a fair few times. A scale up from that, I have been on a track day at Thruxton and was let loose in a Lotus Exige. It was a fantastic day, and I would love to do it again.

I passed my driving test first time, and also have a Power Boat Level 2 qualification certifying me for navigating out to sea and reading charts. Having sailed dinghies from a very young age, I am very confident on the water.