I was born in Brighton and have lived locally ever since. I attended Saltdean Primary School, Longhill High School and Varndean College, finally ending up at the University of Sussex where I obtained my Astrophysics MPhys., PhD in Astronomy and worked as a Research Fellow for 4 years.

I am a Brighton and Hove Albion fan and season ticket holder, enjoy fishing (though notorious for not catching any) and playing the piano.

I have recently become obsessed with growing my own veg using the no-dig method, made famous by Charles Dowding and entertaining by Tony C. Smith.