Welcome to my ProZ page!

I spent a good deal of my childhood in Thailand, Indonesia and West Malaysia (then Malaya). After completing my secondary schooling in the UK I then read German with subsidiary Theology at the University of Bristol. Following 2 years further theological study I lived and worked for 4 years in East Malaysia in a multi-ethnic environment where Malay was the language of daily communication.

Back in the UK from 1980 onwards I was employed first by a firm who exported compressed air driers, for whom I translated contracts and technical documents from German to English. Then for 15 years I worked as a VAT officer with HM Customs & Excise (now HM Revenue & Customs). More recently I was Personal Assistant to the Bishop of Hereford. Within and alongside these posts I built up a flow of translation work, making regular visits to Germany and Austria and watching a range of 30 different German language TV channels here in the UK in order to maintain my knowledge of the language and culture.

I am now enjoying life as a full-time freelance translator (Associate of the Institute of Translation & Interpreting), working from German, Malay and Indonesian into my native English.

In April 2011 I spent 4 weeks in Malaysia including 2 weeks intensive Malay study at Universiti Sains Malaysia (USM) in Penang, and was then a delegate at the 2011 Seminar on Translation of South East Asian Languages (TranSEAL) also at USM.

Forty years of experience as a linguist, during which I have worked for church organisations, commercial enterprises and the public sector, have equipped me to be a careful and competent translator, committed to turning work around fast and in full and sympathetic compliance with instructions from a wide range of clients.

The rates I charge to commercial and public sector organisations are sensible, and I am keen to offer significant discounts to churches and charities.