Profile

Born in 1975 I grew up in a very loving Christian home and enjoyed learning all things engineering from my Dad Richard and all things musical from my Mum Kathryn. I started my education at Pen Mill infants and then moved on to Milford Juniors. At the age of 6 I started playing the guitar and enjoyed anything to do with music. Little did I know that my love for music would eventually become my chosen profession.

My secondary education started at Chilton Cantelo House but unfortunately came to an end at the age of 13 when the school was closed. I then joined Bucklers Mead to complete my school career. During this time I started playing Bass guitar with a local band called TouchStones and was the youngest member by some 20 years. I also played for The Scouts Gang Show that appeared annually in The Octagon Theatre and also with Martock Players pantomime society.

After leaving school I applied to Yeovil College for a YTS (Youth Training Scheme) in engineering and got a placement. After the first year of basic training I was awarded the prestigious title of Buck and Hickman Apprentice of the Year. I also secured an apprenticeship with Westland Engineering. My music continued and I also started taking the occasional guitar pupil.

After completing my Engineering apprenticeship and receiving my skilled papers I soon attained the position of Production Supervisor, believed to be the youngest in company history. In this same year I also got married to my beautiful wife Amanda. After 3 years in supervision I moved into a junior Management position. During this time music still played a very important roll and Pantos, Gang Shows and Gigging still continued amongst other musical events.

Amanda and I were blessed with our first child Robert on Christmas day 2002.

When I left Westland (GKN) in 2003 I was the Production Manager for the engineering shops that I had served my apprenticeship in. I also managed the MOD structural helicopter spares department and was responsible for over 100 members of staff. I left Westland because I felt that God was calling me to his service. Pressures and commitments from a Management position would not allow me the time or energy that was required to do God's work.

Being in a Management position I was required to give 3 months notice and during this time I decided that I would start my own company called DRE Services. This was to do handyman / engineering work and also to progress my life long love of music from a hobby to a career. I was extremely blessed and within 3 months the music side of DRE Services had grown at a far greater pace than I could have ever imagined. This left very little time for any handyman or engineering work and I am now fully occupied with all things musical. This ranges from Teaching Guitar, Bass Guitar, Keyboard / Piano and Music Theory, to Session Bass Playing and Band work.

Amanda and I were again blessed in October 2005 with the birth of our second son Joseph. He is growing at a great rate of knots and his big brother is really pleased to have him around.

School assemblies, preaching and youth work are now taking a major role in my life, as well as being the Chairman of Governors for 'Trent Young's Endowed CE VA Primary School' and Chief Steward at 'St Mark's Methodist Church' in Yeovil.

Having been self employed for five years I felt that God was calling me to expand my ministry. I stopped teaching music in schools at the end of the summer term 2008 to allow me time to start 'Vine Youth Ministry'. Vine is being created to show young people that God loves each one of them and more details will be available shortly on its new website.

God continues to bless my family and it's a joy to be able to serve him sharing my love of music and the talents that he has given me.

Every Blessing,

(C) 2005 - 2008 Copyright and all other rights reserved by Daniel England.