As a young child I became interested in astronomy after reading "The Observers Book of Astronomy" by Patrick Moore. I soon began to learn my way around the star constellations and read every astronomy book I could get my hands on. 

By the time I was 14, I was fortunate enough to be lent a pair of 10x50 binoculars and my father made me a very useful binocular stand. These were used to observe many of the Messier deep sky objects, the brighter planets and the odd comet and minor planet. I joined the Hampshire Astronomical Group - despite having to cycle a 25 mile round trip for their meetings. I wrote to Patrick Moore asking for advice on how to take an O Level in Astronomy (no classes were available in the local area). To my surprise he replied!

After saving for several years, I finally managed to buy my first telescope - a second hand amateur built 6inch F8 Newtonian reflector (see photo above) which I started to use just before my O levels. Over the next couple of years this telescope was heavily used! My eyes must have been sharper in those days - my sketches contain more detail than I would be able to see today with a 6inch telescope...

Five months before taking my A Level exams I upgraded to an 8.5 inch dobsonian telescope. I applied to Birmingham University to study Astronomy with Astrophysics. Sadly, the telescope did not get used much - it was far too big to take to university. Worse still, the University course killed all my interest in astronomy within 6 months... It took more than a decade to regain my interest.