Born in 1963 in Edinburgh, I graduated from Edinburgh University in 1989 with a PhD in inorganic chemistry. I am now a research chemist in the chemical industry in Cheshire, England. I began collecting minerals at age 11, initially in my native Scotland, beginning at the famous Leadhills district, and also Montrose (agates and jasper), then in the Ochils (in particular the remarkable silver mine at Alva), Ireland (on family holidays) and the Caldbeck Fells. I now specialise in Irish minerals, and have a large collection of mostly self-collected material from all over the island. It is my ambition, one day, to write a book on Irish minerals, and I have already authored many articles and papers on the topic. I also continue to collect from Scotland, and from the north of England. I would be delighted to hear from other collectors of Irish minerals, especially if resident in the country. My other interests include occasional gold panning, even more occasional metal detecting, and mining history.