I qualified as a Music Teacher in 1976 and worked in inner London schools for 7 years.
I left teaching to take over the running of a large nightclub in Brixton London.
The club hosted some of the biggest gay and lesbian nights of it's time.
in 1989 I ran and eventually owned a busy restaurant and bar in Clerkenwell London.
I ran and owned this business until 2006. I know first hand the stresses and struggles of this life.
In 1999 was treated for alcoholism at The Priory Roehampton
I am currently in recovery and an active member of recovery programmes
After leaving the restaurant business in 2006 I went back into teaching, this time as a cookery teacher in Aylands Special School for children with emotional and behavioral problems who had been excluded from main stream schooling.
During this time I enrolled at night school and after four years gained diplomas in Therapeutic Counselling and CBT.