Ricky, was born in Barking Essex. He left school in 1970 to start work as an apprentice in the Print. However, he decided this was not for him and after two years changed direction and trained as a butcher. He worked for several butchers including at Smithfield Market. In 1980, wanting to work for himself he bought a delicatessen on Farringdon Road in the City, but after 20 years another change of direction was on the cards! He had always yearned to do ‘the Knowledge’ and in 2000 embarked on the three years and one month of learning and obtained his ‘green badge’ in 2003. Ricky has completed seven marathons, including Paris, Berlin, Disneyland Florida and four London Marathons and competed in the first London Triathlon. He is a trained PADI diver and has scuba dived off Lundy island, the Bahamas and in the Great Barrier Reef. However these days he mostly gets his exercise from walking his very active dog! Participating in weekly Tai Chi classes and always seems to be pottering around the garden. In 2001 he was admitted as a Freeman of the City of London and the following year as a Freeman of the Worshipful Company of Hackney Carriage Drivers. He was Installed as a Court Assistant in 2009 and is currently the Master. Ricky is very proud of the Company’s Magical Taxi Tour for children with life threatening illness and has participated in the tour for the last 13 years. Ricky is married to Maggie, who retired as Clerk to the Worshipful Company of Musicians in 2013. In August 2014 they decided to do some traveling starting on the Trans-Siberian railway. They spent seven months visiting 12 different countries, 57 different towns and cities and slept in 76 different beds, returning home in February 2015. He loves travelling and has been to more than 45 different countries.