David was brought up in Silloth. The family moved to Carlisle in the early 1960s so that David could attend the Grammar School.

He went to Brighton to gain a degree in Computer Science and then joined American Express.

He worked for them in Frankfurt, New York, Texas and in Dorset for 30 years. The job evolved over the years from being a Computer Programmer in its early days to a Senior Manager leading international project management initiatives, new software implementations and managing information security for the American Express Bank’s thirty-six branches worldwide.

After retirement he returned to Carlisle where he was involved with the Citizens Advice Bureau and was on the Independent Remuneration Panel for the Carlisle City Council. He had also given his time and experience to mentoring for small businesses throughout Cumbria, primarily helping with risk analysis and securing funding for start-ups. For the last fifteen years he has been a volunteer for the Royal National Lifeboat Institution (RNLI).