Timeline

A chronological map of my life.
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November 1947

Born. Lived with parents and two relatives in two-up two-down terraced house in Smethwick, Birmingham, UK.

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1950
  • Moved with parents to new semi-detached council house (social housing) in Shirley, near Solihull, Warwickshire.
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1965 - 1952

State education ending with Tudor Grange Grammar School, studying Classics (Latin, Greek, Ancient History) for A Level exams.

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1965
  • Applied for place at Cambridge University to read Classics. Given a place in St Catharine’s College, founded 1473.
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1969 – 1966

Read Classics. Graduated Summer 1969

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1969 - 1971
  • Sudan, Boys Secondary School, Sennar, Blue Nile Province. Volunteer teacher of English Language and Literature, sent by Voluntary Service Overseas (VSO), employed by Sudan Ministry of Education, supported by the British Council, Khartoum. For most of the time the only westerner for almost 6000 (60 x 100) square miles.
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1973 - 1972
London University Teaching Certificate, one year course in Teaching English as a Foreign Language.
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1974 - 1976
  • Libyan Sahara, al Beida, a small oil concession deep in the desert. Initially Amoseas, an Exxon subsidiary but after a few months it was the first to be nationalised, so then employed by Gaddafi’s Umm al-Jawabi company. Some HMG secret service work.
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1987 – 1976

Saudi Arabia. Dhahran on the Gulf coast. Teacher, then Senior Teacher, then Chief Instructor of Royal Saudi Air Force School of English, part of the RSAF Technical Studies Institute. From 1985 appointed project manager for development of complete new training material for all parts of the curriculum: English, Maths/Physics, Aeronautics, Electronics, Air Traffic Control. Also Head of Reprographics staff, to print all new material. Some HMG secret service work.

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1988 - 1989
  • London. MBA City University
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1994 – 1989

British Aerospace (now BAe Systems), Director of Management Development, based at Farnborough, guiding and training senior, middle, and high-potential young managers in the business units around the world, and providing tailored programmes for them communally in prominent business schools in UK and Europe.

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1995 - 1999
  • Tarmac plc. Global Director of Management Development, based in Wolverhampton and London, guiding and training senior, middle, and high-potential young managers in the business units around the world, and providing tailored programmes for them communally in prominent business schools in UK and Europe.
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2001 - 2000

London. A year of rest.

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2001 - 2005
  • London. Independent freelance consultant and coach, helping middle and senior executive clients through job change, performance improvement and whole career change. During this period also accepting hands-on management projects such as running Middle Temple barristers’ chambers.
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2002

Volunteer member of committee of London branch of global Cambridge alumni society, providing social events for Cambridge alumni of all ages who live or work in London.

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2006
  • Started to wind down the professional services. Accepted invitation to join Committee of the St Catharine’s College alumni society, providing social events for St Catharine’s alumni.
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2019 - 2006

Living in London.

Various pursuits:

Some career change and performance-coaching clients.

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2008

Global Cambridge Society with hundreds of branches.Helped with restructuring. Each branch became an independent Society.

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2010

Became Chair of Cambridge Society of London.

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2010

St Catharine’s College alumni Society, became President (one year role), then Secretary.

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2014

Awarded Fellowship (Fellow Commoner) of St Catharine’s College, Cambridge.

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May 2019
  • Resigned as Chair of Cambridge Society of London
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July 2019
  • Diagnosed with Motor Neurone Disease. Diagnosis reconfirmed in October. Bulbar Onset, i.e. the muscle paralysis started in the mouth and throat and started spreading through the whole body
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July 2019
  • Joined Dignitas, later submitting request for an assisted suicide when it felt right. Request accepted.
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September 2019
  • Resigned as Secretary of the St Catharine’s College alumni Society.
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February 2020

Visited Zurich for first consultation with the doctor who had agreed to provide the Dignitas service

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April 2020

Started blog, PEACE OF MiND (deardavid.co.uk ) telling stories of his life and tracking the disease.

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September 2020

London hospital operation to install a PEG (external tube for feeding direct to stomach). Operation failed.

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October 2020

Second London Hospital operation, this time to install a RIG. Operation failed.

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November 2020

London hospital third operation, again to install a PEG. Operation succeeded.

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December 2020

David Peace MNDA Fund opened, arranged by agreement by Prof. Tony Watts.

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February 2021
  • Blog noticed by international online forum. One hour seminar produced with inputs from MNDA and sister of man who ended life with Dignitas.
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March 2021
  • Blog noticed by Dignity in Dying.  Asked to help their work with the media including for the Assisted Dying Bill to be introduced into the House of Lords. Daily Telegraph article, BBC interview, SKY article syndicated throughout UK. Other home-made videos widely seen.  Blog readership increased.
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December 2021
  • Flew to Zurich to end his life with Dignitas’ assistance.