User:Simon Acreman

Early life and education
Born on the 15th December 1988 as 'Simon Reginald Gurd', I was brought up by my aunt and uncle due to reasons I am not totally sure of. Due to the 'adoption' by aunt and uncle, I am now known legally as 'Simon Reginald Acreman'. I have one brother; Michael who is 5 years my senior.

I was educated at Wyndham Park Infants' School, St. Mark's CofE Junior School and Wyvern College; all in Salisbury. I am currently studying A-level Mathematics, Chemistry and Psychology at Bishop Wordsworth's School after dropping Biology after AS exams.

As a child I was brought up in a christian family and went to a Church of England school, although not a heavily religeous upbringing. I turned away from christianity and followed an atheist life throughout most of teen years. However, recently I am swaying to some beliefs loosely based on christian belief, but at present I would not call myself religeous.

Likes/Hobbies
I am a keen sailor. I was once a Sea Scout and later became a leader with the 4th New Forest North (Eling) troop before leaving due to personal reasons. I am also a musician, I play electric and acoustic guitar as well as electric bass. I also played piano for 2 years from the age of 13, although didn't keep it up and my skill has since diminished. I am interested in mostly metalcore and melodic death metal music, computer technology and comedy films/television series; especially My Family, Only Fools and Horses and similar.

Music
I played violin for 3 years in junior school. I quit when I couldn't find a replacement tutor in secondary school. A year or two later, I began to play keyboard and expanding to piano. I became bored and stopped after 2/3 years. As I decided to stop my piano lessons, I decided to learn to play the electric bass, this time without a tutor. A year later, I decided to expand my musical horizons and play the not-too-dissimilar electric guitar, again self taught. To this day I keep up my guitar and bass playing and have become somewhat proficcient at both.

The instruments I own include: Yamaha PSR-(something) keyboard, Stagg Voyager 4-string fretted electric bass, B.C.Rich ASM The Deceiver Limited Edition guitar, Paul Reed Smith CE 24, Gibson SG Standard, Tanglewood Evolution Acoustic and a Tanglewood Canyon II bass. Alongside these, I use a Marshall MG10CD 10-watt practice guitar amplifier, Vox Valvetronix AD30VT 30-watt guitar amp, Marshall JCM2000 DSL100 half-stack guitar amp, Boss ME-50 Multi-effects pedal, Stagg CB20 (I think) 20-watt bass amplifier, D'Addario EXL120 .009/.010 guage electric guitar strings, Ernie Ball Earthwood Extra Light guage acoustic guitar strings, any old bass strings, Jim Dunlop 1mm plectrums, Jim Dunlop quick-release capo.

Water Sports
I have been sailing dinghies since I was 10 years old and in that time have gained a 'RYA level 2 dinghy sailing' qualification. I started on "aft main" rigged Bosuns, and have since sailed "Leaders", "centre main" rigged Wayfarers, Laser Picos and others.

I have also gained BCU 1* in kayaking, and RYA level 1 powerboating (for displacement craft), however I rarely take part in water activities other than sailing.

Dislikes
The current British goverment, although I'm not particularly interested in politics. So-called equality; it is far from true equality and in terms of racial equality, is non-existant in other cultures. Club, modern 'RnB', pop, rap and similar music. The simplistic loops that create these forms of music are more than irritating. These forms of music also contain simplistic and often limited lyrics, sometimes looped over the 'music'.