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Biography

Born in Birmingham in 1964, I studied Personnel Management and came into tourism almost by mistake when I found a training job with a Museum in the 1980’s.

I’ve always had a deep love for and interest in certain places, not least my native West Midlands. In 1992 I began working as a freelance guide on the first open top bus tours of Birmingham. The following year I qualified as a Blue Badge Guide (BBG) for the Heart of England and then spent several years tour managing, both in Britain and on the Continent.

In 1998 I was lucky enough to qualify as a BBG for London and since then have built up a ‘niche’ market doing all sorts of offbeat tours in unusual places.

I’ve recently qualified as a BBG for the South West of England, specialising in Bristol, Bath & Somerset.

I especially enjoy working in such a variety of places. I think it keeps you fresh and ‘on the ball’, and makes for a less ‘conveyor-belt’ attitude which you can get working continuously doing the same thing day in and day out. Fortunately for me, clients seem to agree!

“Ian was exactly the person we had looked for. We had much fun and saw a lot of Birmingham and the most beautiful Black Country. Hopefully we are seeing him again some time.”

Herr S, Germany