1962, born in Bootle. It is almost inconceivable but those three simple words, an accident of birth, have had such a profound effect on my life as a photographer. Early years experience taught me that there were others who could decide our futures and categorise us as they saw fit: our little part of Bootle was deemed a ‘slum’ and therefore in need of ‘clearance’. No consideration was given to the fact that many of my aunties, uncles, cousins and grandparents all lived within four streets of each other. For them none was needed.