David spent 33 years in the Royal Air Force, the first 19 years as a physical training instructor. During these years he specialised in teaching outdoor activities and instructed at a number of RAF and Joint Services adventurous training centres in Scotland, Wales, Norway and Bavaria in Germany. He taught a range of outdoor activities including survival techniques, mountain walking, rock climbing and mountaineering, cross-country skiing and winter climbing. David has participated in many expeditions overseas including a 3 week canoe expedition down the Churchill River in Labrador in Canada early in his career which made a significant impression for his love of wild places and self sufficiency. He was awarded the MBE in 1993 for services to adventurous training and his contribution on the Everest West Ridge expedition in 1992. He was commissioned in 1996 and worked as the Physical Education Officer on a number of RAF Stations including serving in Germany and 6 months in the Falkland Islands before becoming Commanding Officer of an outdoor activities centre in Crickhowell, S Wales where he oversaw Joint Services hangliding and paragliding activities and development training for RAF personnel. He completed his career as the staff officer for adventurous training and policy at Air Command at RAF High Wycombe. He has participated and assisted in many RAF Mountaineering Association expeditions in the UK, the Alps, extensively in Norway and Sweden, Canada and 6 expeditions to the Himalayas where he achieved a first ascent of a 7,400 metre peak. He participated in two British Services expeditions to Mount Everest West Ridge.
David joined Loretto School in 2009 as Head of Outdoor Pursuits and has taken a CCF RN Adult Volunteer Commission and has been appointed Officer Commanding the Royal Navy Section. His interests include golf, cross-country skiing, canoeing in his Canadian canoe and outdoor photography. He is married to Karen and has two children Jennifer and Cameron.
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