Profile

Candidate CV questions (extra)

• Education:

  In the Beginning:

  I first started handling explosives proper at the age of 13, while working on (preparing and firing) a large public firework display. Just after starting secondary school, where I was studying chemistry, physics, engineering, maths, english and computers

   

  I continued this on a single display per year basis, until the late eighties, when I took over the planning and execution of the New Ash Green November 5^th firework celebrations.  As well as providing firework displays at other venues throughout the year.

   

   

  Military Experience:

   

  Having joined the Territorial Army, I celebrated my 18^th Birthday while attending a class III (8B5) Bomb Disposal Engineering course at the Defence Explosives Ordnance Disposal School (DEODS).  Having successfully passed the course I became one of the youngest Explosives Ordnance Disposal (EOD) Engineers to serve in the British Army.

   

  A year or so later, I was tested and upgraded to Class II EOD Engineer.  During my initial 4 years of service with the TA, I also qualified as a Class III Combat Engineer (demolitions, bridge building, booby trapping, mine laying/clearance, etc.).  I have re-joined the TA as a member of a Royal Logistics Corps specialist unit where I have qualified as a Class II Ammunition Specialist and am training towards the higher Class I qualification.

   

   

  In 1990 the Royal Armaments Research and Development Establishment (RARDE)- Part of the Ministry of Defence, recruited me as a research scientist in their warheads and terminal effects department at Fort Halstead.  RARDE later became the Defence Research Agency (DRA), then the Defence Evaluation and Research Agency (DERA) and eventually became QinetiQ. During my time at Fort Halstead I was involved in:

   

  • The Defeat of Concrete (warheads for the defeat of bridges, roads, runways, buildings, etc.)

   

  • Anti-Armour warheads (for the defeat of main battle tanks and other armoured vehicles).

   

  • Large Calibre Kinetic Energy Penetrators (‘Long Rod’ rounds for future tank guns and associated systems).

   

  • The ‘Old Fort’ in house high explosive facility (responsible for planning and executing various explosives trials).

   

  • Explosives Technical Support (to various projects requiring novel application of explosives technology).

   

  • Explosives Competencies (analysing the requirement and drawing up a training scheme to meet said requirement).

   

  • Oil Rig Decommissioning (developing environmentally friendly explosive techniques for decommissioning oilrigs).

   

  • Development of Increased Performance Explosive Perforating Tools for the Oil Industry.

   

   Explosive Interests:

  In 1991, I was asked to put together a demonstration of pyrotechnic special effects for a small interactive theatre event.  In order to provide a suitable and interesting presentation, I contacted numerous firework and pyrotechnic suppliers for their advice and assistance.  This combined with my high explosives training resulted in an effective lecture and demonstration.

   

  This lead to a much deeper interest in the subject of pyrotechnics special effects and explosives in general, so much so, that I have, to date, provided pyrotechnic special effects for a number of film productions including:

   

  “Pseudo Realities”, “Look Like The Innocent”, “Still Buzzin’ ”, “Bare Knuckle”, “Project Alchemy”, “Hush Little Baby”, “Wolves Of Kroma”, “Silent Whisper”, “The Hit”, “Witchcraft X: Mistress of the Craft”, “Hell For Leather”, “Mexican Stand Off”, “Wedgwood Experimental Film”, “Killer In Me”, “Twilight World”, “Ramsleff”, “John Wesley Harding”, “Plato’s Breaking Point”, “Untitled” and “The Fall”.

   

  In addition to these I have had similar involvement in numerous stage shows, battle simulations, air shows and firework displays.  I run a small company ‘Live Action FX Ltd’, which deals mostly with fireworks and special effects.

   

  Professional Development:

   

  In turn, this personal and professional interest in explosives lead me to pursue membership of the Institute of Explosives Engineers.  In 1997 I qualified as a full Member of the Institute (M.I.Exp.E.) based on my explosives experience and having passed their general papers membership examinations. 1998 saw me being co-opted to the Institutes Council due to my knowledge of specialised explosives systems.

   

  The knowledge and skills I have developed through being a member of the Institute of Explosives Engineers has given me a wide view of many aspects of the explosives industry and related technologies, materials and techniques. Including becoming familiar with many British and European Standards/Regulations that are associated with Explosives, Pyrotechnics and Fireworks (including BS: 6657 – RF and Detonators, BS: 7114 – Parts 1, 2 and 3, Firework Standards and BS: 6187 – Demolition, 1875 Explosives Act & MSER 2005).

   

  This wealth of knowledge and understanding allows me to comment as an expert witness on explosions and explosives related matters.  My explosives consultancy & expert witness work is also carried out through Live Action FX:

   

  Expert Witness Reports / Court Appearances / Explosives Consultancy:

   

  • Crown Court – Assisted in obtaining a ‘Not Guilty on all counts’ verdict for an SAS trooper who was accursed of stealing explosives and ammunition from the army.

   

  • Juvenile Court – Wrote a report concerning evidence recovered by the home office forensic explosive laboratory, from a defendant’s home. My job was to assess the evidence and advise the defence team if the devices/materials recovered were illegal under the 1875 Explosives Act, so that they could enter appropriate pleas for the various charges being faced. My report confirmed that the devices were indeed illegal.

   

  • Civil Court – Wrote an in depth report about the special effects industry, how it works and likelihood of employment there in, as evidence for a compensation case for a young man who had been prevented from following his dream of working in special effects after a serious road accident.

   

  • RSPCA – Researched and wrote in-depth report on ‘Quiet Fireworks’ to support the RSPCA’s “Quiet Please” parliamentary campaign. Also provided a firework display to demonstrate that fireworks can be done relatively quietly – this was fired next to the Mayor of London offices, by Tower Bridge with various MP’s and reporters in attendance.

   

  • Crown Court – Examined the statements of a defendant that had been arrested for terrorism offences and produced a report as to whether the defendant had actually received the explosives training detailed in his statements or if he was simply making it up. The statements revealed a far greater understanding of explosives and related materials than would be expected from a member of the general public.

   

  • Court Marshal – A British Army Solider in Germany was being charged with ‘possession of and explosive substance’, in relation to an anti-personnel land mine he had. I travelled to Germany to examine the land mine in question and discovered that it was a ‘dummy’ and contained no explosives.  My report pointed out that the Solider had been charged under the 1875 Explosives Act, which was no longer on the statute book, having been superseded by the ‘Manufacture and Storage of Explosives Regulations’. It went on to explain why the ‘dummy’ land mine was not illegal to posses under either set of laws. On considering my report the judge threw the case out.

   

  • Civil Court – A lady was injured by a firework set up and fired by her husband in their back garden. The lady was seeking damages from the firework importer.  I was asked to examine the remains of the firework and produce a report for the plaintiff’s solicitors with regard to how the firework had malfunctioned.  My report showed that there was no sign that the firework had malfunctioned. From the witness statements and a test firing of an identical firework, I concluded that the lady’s husband has not sufficiently secured the firework as directed in the instructions on the device, as such the firework manufacturer/importer was not to blame for the unfortunate accident.

   

  • Provides Fireworks Health & Safety support to the London Borough of Bromley during the November season and for other displays throughout the year.

   

  In addition to being called upon as an explosives expert by the courts, I have also been asked to delivered lectures and demonstrations on explosives and related subjects to various and varied audiences, including television and radio appearances:

   

  Lectures

   

  • “Gunpowder”               –          A lecture and demonstration for local schools & colleges who

  were involved in a project the clear the Dartford Powder Mill site for public and historic access.

   

  • “What is an Explosive?”         –           An introduction to explosives, with a bias towards WWII era

  munitions including picric acid and picrites for a Japanese delegation at Chemical & Biological Defence Establishment Porton Down.

   

  • “Shaped Charges”              –        A lecture about the shaped charge phenomenon its application

  and effects for; the European Dredging Association, Off Shore Engineering Society, on the Pyrolabs inc.1997 &1998 Pyrotechnic Chemistry courses and as a module on the Institute of Explosive Engineers’ “Science of High Explosives, Legal, Safety & Environmental Concerns” course.

   

  • “Exploding The Illusion”        –           A special effects lectures and demonstrations at; ‘LLAP1’ (a

  Star Trek Convention), ‘Stow Con Trent’ (role-playing convention),  ‘EXPLO 98′ (explosives symposium), Midland / SE / SCW Branches of the Institute of Explosives Engineers, ‘Explo-World 2001’  (a 4 day international explosives conference), The Ordnance Conference (a black powder cannon users conference)and the Health & Safety Executive (as an after dinner speaker/demonstration for two of their conferences).

   

  • “Walls Came Tumbling Down”    –         A case study presentation about the demolition of a large scale

  model temple for the feature film ‘The Fall’.

   

   

  TV/Radio Appearances:

   

  • Channel Four – “Scrapheap Challenge”, appeared as an explosives expert to explain

  the difference between black powder and the more modern ‘cordite’ propellants, including a demonstration burn of each.

   

  • Channel Five – “Live with Chris Moyles”, interviewed as a fireworks expert, as it was

  approaching November, explained about the different categories of firework and fired various demonstrations both in the studio and on the roof of the building.

   

  • Discovery Channel – “The Ultimate Explosions”, In addition to being interviewed as a

  ‘talking head’, I provided the programme makers with a suite of demonstrations, including black powder – confined and unconfined, TNT – burning and impact resistance, ANFO – cratering charge.

   

  • BBC Radio Merseyside – “News”, commenting on the disturbing use of high powered firework

  by vandals to destroy property – cars, post boxes, phone boxes etc.

   

  • BBC, ITV, Sky, – Asked to comment on 7/7 London bombings, I was also asked to

     comment by The Times & Routers.

   

  • National Geographic Channel – “Naked Science – Shock Wave” Provided various explosives

  demonstrations and explanations, both in the open and inside various   sheds so that the audience could appreciate the massive effect even a small amount of explosive can have on structures.

   

  • BBC 2 – “Victorian Pharmacy” demonstrating various pyrotechnic powders

      and how fireworks were manufacturer in Victorian Britain.

   

  • BBC 1 – “Casualty” was originally asked to provide technical advice on a

  bomb disposal sequence for the second episode of the Autumn 2010    series.  Ended up playing the part of the heroic bomb disposal operator who saves the life of one of the main characters.

   

  • Meridian TV/ITN – “Evening News” Demonstrating the function and effect of an L 109

      Hand Grenade after an ex-soldier was found guilty of using one in an  

      attempt to murder his wife.

• Qualifications:

  3 ‘A’ Levels   (Eng. Drawing, Computer Science and Woodwork) – Longfield Upper School

  7 ‘O’ Levels  (Inc. Maths, English, Engineering and Sciences)- Longfield Upper School

  Explosive Ordnance Disposal Class 3 & 2 – British Army

  Combat Engineer Classes 3 & 2 – British Army

  H.N.C. Mechanical and Production Engineering – Mid – Kent College

  General Papers (Science, Law and Environmental) – Inst. of Explosives Engineers

  Firework Display Firing Specialist Paper – Inst. of Explosives Engineers

  Shotfiring in the Construction Industry – Inst. of Explosives Engineers

  PADI Open Water Diving Instructor – Dive In, Whittlsey, Peterborough

  HSE (Part 4) Commercial Scuba Diver – Puffin Dive Centre, Oben

  Chemistry of Pyrotechnics – Pyro Labs Inc.

   I.O.S.H. Managing Safely with Fireworks – St. Austell College

   BTEC Level 2 (Intermediate) Fireworks – Loughborough College

  BTEC Level 2 (Intermediate) Pyrotechnics – Loughborough College

  Special Effects Explosives Safety – Cranfield University

  The Science of Explosives and Munitions Design –  Cranfield University

  Introduction to Explosives (MSc Module) – Cranfield University

  Laser Safety – Cranfield University

   Advances in Energetic Materials – Civil Service College

  Ammunition Specialist Classes 3 & 2 – British Army

   MSc in Explosives Ordnance Engineering – Cranfield University

   

• Work History:

  Paper boy delivering daily newspapers (Martins the Newsagents)1983 – 1987

  Soldier in the reserve forces Royal Engineers (British Army) 1987 – 1991

  Carpenter (shop fitter) 1989 -1989

  Packer (cheese factory) 1989 – 2000

  Warheads Research Scientist (RARDE/QinetiQ) 1990 – 2002

  Film and theatre special effects (various) 1996 – 2010

  Soldier in the reserve forces Royal Logistics Corps (British Army) 1999 – 2012

  Explosives expert witness (various) 2000 – now

  Explosives engineer (AWE) 2005 – now

• Current Job:

  Explosives Engineer

  Designing new and interesting explosive systems, solving explosives problems and improving explosive quality and safety.

• Employer:

  AWE an arms length body of the Ministry of Defence.