In 1990 I left the forces and entered the private defence sector with defence manufacturing, range management and as a technical advisor to various international customers. Weapon systems included the FN MAG, Browning M2, Chain Gun and the Oerlikon 35mm Anti aircraft system to name but a few.

However the good times were to come to a rapid end as a result of world politics. Overnight the Berlin wall came crashing to the ground and with it the UK defence industry, I was redundant, gutted and no one needed a firearms expert.

So in 1992/93 I formed Thames Valley Guns, with it I brought a wealth of history professionalism, experience and qualifications to the business, such as Class one Armourer, Weapons Technician trained by Oerlikon Contraves in Switzerland and the successful completion of Firearms and Munitions Design courses at the Royal Military College of Science at Schrivenham.