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 Mark has been involved in IT for some 20 years. He started
his career as an electronic engineer, but found that he had
a particular interest in computing, building his first PC in
1974.
The interest in computing developed and he moved to Switzerland
to work for Cern at around the same time as Tim Berners Lee
was putting the first ideas together for what would later become
the World Wide Web. On returning to the UK Mark started his
own company selling hardware and writing application software
for individual clients.
Mark became involved with Internet Technology, in the late
'70s, long before the current explosion of interest in the
Web was generally envisaged. He has never lost the interest
and enthusiasm for the technology involved.
During the early part of his career he developed considerable
expertise in database work with particular emphasis on the
use of databases in conjunction with Direct Marketing. He has
continued to build on his early experience and is considered
by many to be an expert in database structure and management.
Mark is a contributing editor to PCPro
magazine, but it is because of his partnership with Anna that
he got heavily involved in the bridge side of things! You can read his (occasional) PCPro Blog by clicking here.
Mark doesn't play bridge - and flatly refuses to learn, fearing
that he might find it addictive.
Mark developed all the technology, including the scoring, behind the Simultaneous
Pairs and the ECatsBridge
Club. He has taken over the work of the WBF Master
Points, following the sad death of Pietro
Bernasconi.
 He
loves fast cars, and has recently bought a 2-hand BMW 7 series - the one with the biiiig engine (V-12, 5.2 litre!) which we are really enjoying,
and we mustn't forget the love of his life, a fully original
Mustang Convertible (pictured left!). Anna reckons it is his
mid-life crisis car! Like Anna, he enjoys wining and dining,
likes film and theatre and reads car magazines and techical
books ad nauseam - between us we probably keep Amazon in business.
Mark's main hobbies though are archaeology - the Neolithic variety - photography (click here to see Mark's pictures), and an interest in geology. He also organises a fantastic fireworks display for our friends each year - he and our neighbour Steve work on it for weeks in advance and really do produce a most spectacular event!
This photograph was taken inside the Neolithic House at Knap of Howar on Papa Westray - it had started to rain and where better to shelter than in ancient man's abode ?
Mark is a great D-I-Yer, and really enjoys working on the
Railway Station, especially now he has an enormous shed to
keep all his power tools in !
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