I’ve been Type 1 since England won the World Cup (when I was three). I’ve never been unemployed in my life. Started work two days before my 16 birthday as an electrician. Still full time employed. I used to work in Oxford Street and Bond Street in London. I’d leave the North East at 4am & be there with tool box open at 9.30am by myself driving all the way.
I would like to inspire kids and parents. I’m on two committees for Diabetes UK. For the kids’ holidays (Type 1 events) I volunteered & helped at Telford. I was one of the first there and travelled from my house and was there at 9.30am on my motorbike.
I’ve been to Asia, Norway, Sweden, Estonia, Latvia, Russia boarder, Italy twice on my motorbike. Done coast to coast, Hadrian's wall on peddle bike, Catamaran, jet-ski and windy board.
I have in my garage a car that I got when I was 20, brand new Astra GTE in black, you can see your reflection in the paintwork. I have been to Istanbul – in 10 days I did more than 4,000 miles – on a motorbike! - 600 miles in one day.
I do something for charity every year including a talk that I do - "Double Devil" that's 1,200 miles, on a 1200cc raising £1,200 for Diabetes UK not 666!
In 2016, in my 50 year of Type 1, I did "3 of the Tallest" The Shard, Big Ben, & Scar-Fell Pike. I have a couple of photos of me jumping waves on my stand on Jet Ski, 6 foot waves and still three foot off the water. I’ve been around "Bass Rock" on jet ski 6 miles out. And I’ve done the full length of Loch Lomond on ski.
My two kids are getting bigger and my son has done the Joiner Great North Run twice for Diabetes UK – now 14 and six foot two.
Ian's words
