Mark grew up in Wisbech St Mary, attending The Queen’s School for Boys before embarking on a Business Studies Course at the Isle of Ely College, Wisbech.
After college he entered industry to follow a career in accountancy. Firstly, with a construction company and then for the last 37 years in the local newspaper industry as Financial Controller for Johnson Publishing Limited, gaining CMI, FMAAT and MICM qualifications. In 2014 he took early retirement. Mark served with Cambridgeshire Special Constabulary from 1981 to 1985 based at Wisbech and March Police Stations.
Colonel Mark’s ACF service began at the age of 14 years as a Cadet at Tydd St Giles Detachment, Cambridgeshire Army Cadet Force, later serving as an Adult Instructor and gaining a commission. Since then he has held many appointments including Detachment Commander, Company HQ appointments, including OC No 1 (Hereward) Company. He has been the County Training Officer, County Signals, County Public Relations Officer and Deputy Commandant before leaving for a short time in 2012 before returning the Cadet Force in 2014 as Commandant, a post he held until his retirement in August 2020. He is the holder of a Lord Lieutenant’s Certificate, the ACF Certificate of Good Service, awarded in 2002, and was winner of the Sword of Excellence for ACF Public Relations in 2004.
Mark is married to Diane and has two grown up children and two grandchildren. His interests outside the ACF include being a Trustee of the Suffolk and Cambridgeshire Regiment Museum based in Bury St Edmunds, along with being Chairman of Trustees, Octavia Hill Birthplace House based in Wisbech. Hobbies include photography and driving his ex-army 1986 Land Rover.
Mark was awarded an MBE in 2007 for services to Cambridgeshire Army Cadet Force and was appointed a Deputy Lieutenant of Cambridgeshire in 2019.