Andy Preece 1975 to 1982

Former St Anne’s, Orpington pupil Andy Preece managed to be a great sportsman, a brilliant student and an excellent bloke as well. He stayed on at St Mary’s for a seventh term with a view to applying to Oxford, but (despite three interviews) just missed out. So straight after St Mary’s he went to work at the Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) doing clerical work for seven months before taking up a place at the University of St Andrews where he studied Modern History.

After graduation, he went back to DTI for a couple of years, had a short spell at the Halifax, and then got selected for the Civil Service Fast Stream and offered the Inland Revenue.

Andy takes up the story: “I have worked for the Revenue/HMRC since 1991, working for six years in Special Compliance Office working on large money investigation cases and the last 14 years in International tax.

 “I met my wife, Lisa, while working at the Halifax in 1988, and we were married in 1996. We live in Barnet and have two sons, David and Daniel.”

Andy enjoys novels by Bernard Cornwell, Rory Clements, C J Sansom, Gerald Seymour and is a lifelong supporter of Hereford United (now Hereford FC since being reformed) because his dad comes from there.

“I also support Barnet FC and take my sons (both Hereford, Barnet and Spurs fans, but not necessarily in that order!) to watch them most home games.

 “I enjoyed my time at St Mary’s very much, and probably more so looking back wearing my rose tinted spectacles.”