A Life Well Lived


Stories from a life in the RAF, air traffic control, and everything that came after.

“I spent a lifetime in the RAF and air traffic control. These are the stories that stayed with me.”

From growing up during the Troubles in Northern Ireland, to serving in the RAF, to working at the sharp end of air traffic control, I’ve seen things most people never get close to.

This site is where I’m putting those memories down. Properly. While they’re still clear in my mind.

No exaggeration. No dressing things up. Just how it was.

If you’re new, these are a good place to begin:

  • Aldergrove, 1970s – crawling through barbed wire to watch aircraft during the height of the Troubles
  • Saxa Vord – life on the edge of the Shetland Islands, equal parts isolation and madness
  • RAF to Civilian Life – the reality of stepping out of uniform and into the unknown
  • Inside Air Traffic Control – what it’s really like when the system is live and there’s no room for error

Why I’m Writing This

There comes a point where you realise most of your life is still sitting in your own head.

Stories fade. Details blur. And once they’re gone, they’re gone.

I’m writing this to get it down. For myself, for my family, and for anyone who’s interested in what life looked like from the inside.

Some of it is funny. Some of it isn’t. All of it is real.

What You’ll Find Here

  • RAF life and postings
  • Air traffic control and engineering work
  • The people who made it memorable
  • The moments that stayed with me, for better or worse

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Follow Along

If you’d like to keep up with new stories, you can also find me here:

  • Facebook – for day-to-day posts and shorter memories
  • LinkedIn – for thoughts on engineering, systems, and resilience

Closing Line

It’s been a full life so far. This is my way of making sure it doesn’t disappear.

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