Before joining the College in 2018, I had a very eclectic career, including veterinary nursing and working on the operational side of the British Antarctic Survey. I began a horticultural career change in 2010 and gained experience working at an organic farm, a garden centre, an alpine nursery and within three other Cambridge Colleges (Trinity Hall, King’s, Wolfson).
My hobbies are all outside interests, walking (the hillier the better), gardening (can’t get enough) and playing with my two American Quarter Horses (Monty and Daisy).
I was always a keen gardener as a child, growing vegetables in the back garden and then completed a degree in Horticulture in my early twenties. Early career roles included growing watercress in Florida and teaching English in Chile before I took a career break to spend eight very rewarding years as a full-time father to my two daughters. I then became a self-employed gardener for several years before joining Homerton. My particular interest at Homerton is to try to create colour and interest in the borders for as long as possible.
Away from Homerton and family life I play cricket and tennis and during the football season will try to go and watch my beloved Brighton and Hove Albion as much as possible!
I began my role at Homerton in January 2021 after completing my Gardening Apprenticeship at Downing College. Before Gardening I had a varied career from working in builders' merchants and factories to being a self-employed plasterer which was my original trade.
I love my role here at Homerton, in particular looking after the lawns and designing herbaceous perennial borders.
I moved to Cambridge from Hartlepool in 2009 to pursue a career in the music business and spent 10 years on the road touring with my former band The Jar Family as a guitarist and singer. We never quite reached the dizzy heights of success but we had lots of fun along the way.
My hobbies include playing guitar and football but these days mostly entertaining my two daughters Layla and Sienna and enjoying family time.
I started gardening at the age of 16 when I started at Newnham College. I then worked at Pembroke College for two years and at the University Estate Management for three years before going back to Newnham where I stayed for nineteen years. I moved to Downing College for six years and then joined Homerton in 2022. I have worked for the University all my career and very much enjoy my work. I also do my own garden in my spare time.
I started my horticultural studies after wondering what could link some of my previous backgrounds and interests (fine arts, sciences, design and architecture, what the world needs and what was already a hobby) and that I could be paid for. Some of my passions are: soil health and conservation, biodiversity and our tree legacy for future generations. Although I love every inch of Homerton, my favourite spots are the orchard and the pond area, where I check the wild orchid population evolution. When I am not working, I can be found riding my bike to pitch the tent, making terrariums, sometimes water colouring or recently playing with pottery.
I became interested in horticulture during lockdown. I enjoyed it so much that I pursued an RHS Horticultural qualification at Shuttleworth College and decided to ditch the office in favour of working outside with nature. I worked in garden maintenance and volunteered at the Cambridge University Botanic Garden before joining Homerton College in October 2024. Outside of work I enjoy hiking, reading and working in my own garden.
I have always been happiest working with plants and flowers, creating spaces that connect people with nature. With a background in Fine Art, floristry and horticulture, I enjoy bringing a creative approach to planting and garden design. My experience working in the gardens at Trinity and Emmanuel has further developed my horticultural knowledge and practical experience. Alongside this, I continue to work as a florist, allowing me to develop my skills while deepening my understanding of the natural world.
