From early on in his life, it was fairly obvious to anybody observing that he had zero aptitude for sports requiring any degree of speed or skill however, over time , it became apparent that he did at least have a grit and determination to endure more than most others, always being able to ‘out plod’ kids bigger and stronger than him.

Though his upbringing was fairly normal, a lust for life, introduced to him by his father would skew him in different directions over the years and Mark, not one to pass up an opportunity for adventure, took full advantage of new challenges open to him.

Through a combination of life choices and chance conversations, he would go on to pursue careers in the London Fire Brigade and super-yachting. Latterly, he discovered a passion for adventure travel which would fuel a desire to push the very limits of human endeavour, at first in mountaineering, then on the high seas, culminating in an attempt to set a new world record by becoming the first person in history to row solo and unsupported from New York to London.