Leaving the forces after 12 years I knew my hearing wasn’t the best and as I got older it got progressively worse. After a few days of constant ringing my hearing started to return but the damage was already done. In 2017 I was asked to relocate to Houston in the US for my job but I knew my hearing was getting really bad so I got an audiogram done and found out that I was profound in both ears. That’s when I contacted UK veterans for hearing Foundation who very quickly provided me with hearing aids which in certain environments helped me carry out my duties in the US.

Joining the Royal Signals in 1989 took me to all corners of the globe including the first Gulf war and Bosnia. Unbeknown to me at the time it was Bosnia that was to damage my hearing. While in Bosnia we were tasked to support the Royal Engineers in clearing a house that was full of unfused anti tank mines. It total there were probably in excess of 1000 mines that has to be taken to a valley and blown up in a huge pit.

While the Royal Engineers were excavating a huge pit with JCB,s we were busy loading the mines into the pit ready to blow. One the Royal Engineers set the charges we retreated about 500 metres up the valley and watched as the huge mushroom cloud went up to the sky. It was a few seconds after that we were hit with the sound wave. Inevitably we were all knocked sideways with ringing in the ears.

In Nov 2019 I decided at the age of 48 that I couldn’t go on in my job with constant conference calls and crowded meetings so I quit. Decided to take Christmas off while every day I was feeling sorry for myself. Then COVID hit, this was my turning point to start thinking out of the box and Gutter Clear Pro was born. Cleaning Gutters is a relatively simple concept but I wanted to do it differently and at the same time give something back. It was a no brainier for me to partner with UK Veterans Hearing Foundation to raise awareness for the charity and to also contribute by having various fund raising activities throughout the year and sending a % of each job I complete to the charity also.

It’s only a few weeks into the business but I am already booked up for the next few weeks with the possibility of a service contract with Babcock. It’s moving very quickly and I’m just glad to be able to do something again while giving something back. Every van the business adds will have a veteran running it as there own business supporting their charity of choice.