Time of My Life

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As part of BBC Radio Oxford's programme 'Time of My Life' I have been asked to pick 8 songs that have real significance for me and represent key parts of my life. I thought this would be easy, but it's taken me days to put a list together.

It would seem that apart from one song when I was working for the Foogy Petronas Motorbike race team, my association with music and key events in my life seemed to have stopped at the end of my military career - and that was 16 years ago!

After much deliberation, my final list is:

Paul Hardcastle - 19
A big song when I was at school – the Vietnam War was still fairly fresh in people’s minds, having only finished 10 years earlier in 1975. Unfortunately it’s an all too common theme, with young lads being killed and injured today on both sides. That’s why we are raising money for Help for Heroes.

Go West - We Close Our Eyes
Before I joined the British Army in 1986 I bought 2 albums – ‘Go West’ by Go West and Madonna’s ‘Like a Virgin’. Any spare moment I had during my intensive basic training, I listened to these albums.

Madonna - Rescue Me
During my Officer Training for the RAF in 1991, we were split into 13 individual Flights – I was part of ’13 Flight’. Our ‘Flight’ song was actually ‘Vogue’ but ‘Rescue Me’ was also a big favourite and this album is linked to my RAF career.

Blacknuss - DJ Saved My Life (C&J Mix)
Out in 1997, I heard it on Radio 1 while preparing for our expedition to Alaska with Ranulph Fiennes. An awesome driving song – it has to be this remixed version though.

Simply Red - Sunrise
Released in 2003 when I was working on a classic car rally that I had done the route planning for and had the privilege of Meeting Mick Hucknall. With a loop from 80’s group Hall & Oates (I can’t go for that) it's a great driving song.

O’Spada - Time
Also first heard on Radio 1’s Anne Mac show on Friday night while on a long drive home (the only time I ever listen to Radio 1 is Friday nights when driving!). My 2 year old daughter Sophie loves it and this also has an 80’s feel about it – American pop duo Ny Shooz springs to mind.

Kajagoogoo - Too Shy
Simply because it has the best intro to any song – the base is awesome! It has to be played loud!

Tigerstyle - Nachna Onda Nei
First heard when dance duo ‘Signature’ were discovered on Britain’s Got Talent in 2008. I’m a big Michael Jackson fan and next year I lead a team of London bus drivers on an 8,000 mile overland journey to Mumbai in aid of the children’s charities that work in the slums. This will be our song!

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