Simon trained as a veterinary surgeon at the University of Bristol before completing a PhD and postgraduate specialist pathology training at the Royal Veterinary College. Outside of a busy work life Simon loves to travel the world watching birds and enjoying wildlife. This has become something of an obsession and he has visited more than 50 countries observing and photographing birds. Simon has visited the Canary Islands many times on holiday and as a Visiting Professor at the Faculty of Veterinary Medicine at the ULPGC and is passionate about conserving the unique birds of these islands.