My parents were performers, but I think my mother hoped I would avoid that insecure profession and use my intelligence to go to university and get a 'proper job'.
Sadly I let her down in that hope, as the draw to performing (and working for myself) proved too strong.
I began as a street performer (back in the days when that was an outlaw way of making a living, not the professional choice it is now) and that led to other perfoming opportunities, as well as teaching and promoting circus skills for their mental and physical benefits, particularly to non-academic children.
The fitness levels I acquired as a juggler and acrobat, combined with the experience of doing mime and mask work, led to work inside animatronic creatures for major feature films - originally trained and employed by Jim Henson (of the Muppets) but ending up inside Jabba the Hutt in Return of The Jedi. That last job remains a claim to fame, and I am still contacted by fans, asked to sign photos, etc.
The film business is fickle, and after six films I returned to my first love, circus and variety, helping set up circus schools in the UK, and eventually running away with a circus created by some of my students!
Turning 50, I wanted a slightly more settled life, so took a winter job in the local library, and have remained here ever since - specializing in computer use (for staff and public).
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