I had a very dysfunctional life growing up and I hated my childhood! I am a twin to a sister and there were seven of us. We didn’t all get along too well and my older brothers use to fight so violently it caused me to run from the home in sheer fear!

My mother was Irish and my dad was English. My mother was cruel and often violent too. She left home when I was 10 years old. I was scared and afraid of what would become of this broken family! My dad supported us and he did a reasonable job. My mum later dipped in and out to see us after a very long time away!

School was painful and I would eventually play absent from school and did so a lot! One day I was involved in a shopping spree with a group of mixed-aged men and was later caught. It was reported in the local newspaper and I was described as a fourteen year old juvenile who could not be named for legal reasons. The outcome of such an offense meant I was placed on probation and eventually placed in care when I continued to fail to attend school. This later became the day center for the duration of my school days until I was eligible to leave. I left without any qualifications and couldn’t read.

At the age of twelve, I was sexually abused and this went on for many years by many different people. I was often treated very cruelly and it became commonplace and this became the norm.

I managed to acquire various factory work and other similar jobs thereafter until I reached 23 years old and became a Christian. My life changed and eventually, I went back to college to study to get my GCSEs after meeting a school teacher from secondary school who wanted to help me.
She discussed my days at school and shared her dismay at how I was treated. Because she believed in me she went on to tell me that she always assumed I may have been dyslexic? I had no idea what she was talking about! She asked me if I would consider help to which I accepted with open hands. Later I was diagnosed officially as dyslexic and she was right!!

Eventually, I achieved my GCSEs in English and carried out many other educational programs and activities, and then went on to become a bus driver. I got married to Sue who was also a teacher and we have been married for 28 years this April 3rd. I then went into management creating a new role and later became a special police constable.

Then in 2013 after 27 years, I began my own business in catering and provided catering to corporate businesses and events. Since 1984 I was a practicing Christian but this changed last year at the start of lockdown due to COVID-19 when I began to seriously read The Secret! It changed my life again and I began to question my faith of 35 years! Since then I have been reading many more of Rhonda’s books. I have been really happy and have had my whole life perspective change for the better. Thank you!