| 1969 |
Colin started work as a cadet nurse in 1969. |
| 1970-73 |
Student Nurse |
| 1973-76 |
Qualified as a Registered Nurse for People with Learning Disabilies (then mental subnormality) on March 24 1973 at The Royal Albert Hospital in Lancaster. This happened to be his 21st birthday making him the youngest registered nurse in the country at that time (a record that may be equalled but of course can never be beaten). |
| 1976-78 |
Qualified as a Registered General Nurse (then State Registered Nurse) at the Royal Lancaster Infirmary. Returning to the Royal Albert Hospital he held several charge nurse posts including Surgeries & Clinics and a Centre for People with physical/severe learning disabilities. |
| 1982-91 |
Deputy Principal - Head of Care for MacIntyre Ltd (then schools) at Westoning Manor in Bedfordshire. |
| 1988 |
Certificate in Social Services (CSS) at Cassio College Watford. |
| 1990 |
Diploma in Counselling in London (1990). |
| 1991-93 |
Staff Development Officer for Bedfordshire Social Services and was involved in the development of their NVQ Centre. |
| 1993-94 |
Adult Services Manager for The National Autistic Society in Barton Mills Suffolk. |
| 1994-96 |
Manager of NVQs and Investors in People for The National Autistic Society. |
| 1995 |
Along with Nicola he developed the Society’s NVQ Centre – The NVQ Assessment Centre for Autism Specific Services. 1n 1996 Colin and Nicola took over the ownership, development and management of this Centre and developed it as NVQ Academy that we know today. |
Colin is an ardent quiz fanatic. He has captained the “Rainbow Warriors” Quiz Team for 15 years. They were seen on BBC2 Eggheads in 2005 and Mike Read's Pop Quiz on Red in 2007. Originally a general knowledge quiz team “The Warriors” are now involved in a music quiz every Sunday. Colin has also visited every racecourse in England & Wales and is a long-suffering fan of Preston North End FC.
