Julian grew up in a suburb of Reading in Berkshire, and as like most young boys of his age, he was mad about cars. His father was quite adept with engines and cars, and would never put any of the vehicles he owned in for repair to a commercial garage. This meant getting his hands dirty uder the bonnet and Julian would help his dad to keep the two old family cars running. This is where he developed a fascination for and how they worked and cold evenings were well spent lying on the ground fixing one or other so either mum or dad could get to work the next day.

At the age of 17, and after only four driving lessons, he passed his driving test and then bought his first car, a 1962 Morris Minor 1000 saloon, which of course was also put on the DIY maintenance programme.

Upon leaving school, Julian tried various forms of work, but couldn't seem to settle at any of them. However, in October 1975, that was to change when he joined the police service.

Due to his love of all things fitten with the internal combustion engine, in 1982 he progressed to the Traffic Patrol Department of his force, and this involved attending many advanced driver training courses. This was an environment in which he thrived, and on every police driving course he attended he came out as top student. He holds one of the highest Home Office Police Class One driving marks awarded to anyone within the police force within which he served.

In the years that followed Julian went on to complete a LGV 1 police driving course (then called a HGV-1 Course) and qualified to advanced instructor level for 4x4 off-road vehicles. Further more he is the holder of a Police City & Guilds certificate for Motor Vehicle Examination and Automotive Technology, including advanced brakes technology, and became a (Police) Vehicle Examiner.

In total he spent 20-years as a traffic patrol officer and over that period he developed a great deal of driving skill and experience. He has an in-depth knowledge and understanding of motor vehicles of just about every kind and how they work. His love of motorised vehicles and driving has never left him, which is why he greets his work within Ride Drive with such enthusiasm and energy. Julian is always willing to pass on tips and advice if only to make the roads a safer place for everyone and make the art of driving a joy to experience.

"Driving is often such an egotistical activity," he says, "and none more so than in the driver training arena. It really annoys me when obviously talented drivers and motorcyclists, who hold positions as trainers, take on this air of superiority and then find it necessary to rubbish the performance of those who are trying to learn better skills, seemingly to caress their own ego. None of us are perfect in this world," he continues. “We never stop learning, and those that think they know all there is to know clearly don’t, otherwise they wouldn't act as though they did. Each experience we are given is something that we should feed from every day, to analyse and to draw from it what we can in terms of further knowledge, because the moment anyone gets complacent, that is when it can easily all go so horribly wrong."

Julian gladly retired from the police in October 2005, having completed 30-years service, and is now completely committed to the development of Ride Drive, taking the company forward to becoming a class leader in the world of advanced driver and motorcycle rider training.