I suppose the best place to start any story is the beginning, not always of course, sometimes an author might start a story in the middle, or even at the end, but, I think for this 'story' the beginning is, indeed, the best place to start. I  grew up in the 1970s and early 1980s on the Wirral. I had a pretty good childhood. No real issues or problems, lots of fun, lots of happy memories. I didn't particularly like school, but did OK, getting plenty of O levels, then A levels, then heading off to the University of Salford to study Aeronautical Engineering. I had plenty of fun at University, no real problems or issues there either. I achieved a BEng (Hons) and got a job with the MoD at the, then, Royal Aerospace Establishment Bedford, an active Flight Test and research airfield. I would be working with the VAAC Harrier team on developing and testing new flight control schemes for a possible future replacement to the Harrier, what would go on and become the JSF F35B. Pretty m...