David was born and grew up in Woodbridge, and has always lived locally apart from a short spell in Merchant Navy on leaving school and living in Australia for a year in mid-70’s.
He was a Quantity Surveyor and Civil Engineering Estimator for 15 years with a local company before personal circumstances led him to retrain as a Social Worker, a job he did for about 30 years. More recently, he was Parish Clerk (part-time) for a local Parish Council (now retired!)
Being a local boy, the Sutton Hoo story has been a fascination and intrigue since childhood, and he says it always felt like a very spiritual place for him, and it has stimulated a lifelong interest in archaeology and ‘uncovering the past’ and the stories it reveals.
David has always been fascinated with people’s recent or past stories, so social work gave him a chance to hear lots of them first-hand, although not always pleasant ones! Being the Volunteer Coordinator is an opportunity to meet more interesting people and to hear their many stories!
He has always enjoyed sports, mainly hockey until he learned to row about ten years ago, and now rows with Woodbridge Coastal Rowing Club in the St Ayles skiff and sliding seat rowing with Deben Rowing Club. Having rowed Sae Wylfing on several occasions, he is looking forward to the sea trials of the full-size Sutton Hoo ship.