A medical technician who was forced to retire at 39 after a series of heart attacks has revived his career - as a journalist.

Richard Hill left the NHS in 1995 after the last of his three heart attacks and was diagnosed with congenital heart disease.

After retraining himself as a writer he was recently appointed as an editorial writer for the Slough Observer.

Richard Hill

He now writes a regular weekly motoring and recruitment column and fortnightly menus & venues review along with special features.

The success came despite having no previous experience as a journalist or writer and with no formal qualifications.

He worked hard to get his first feature published in Canal & Riverboat magazine in October 1996.

Since then he has had articles published in more than 20 UK leisure and lifestyle magazines, including a column in the London Evening Standard's ES magazine and has broken into broadcasting, as research associate on the Carlton Television documentary series Waterworld.

He said: "In 1990, I suffered the first in a series of heart attacks and was diagnosed as having congenital heart disease.

"In 1993 I underwent a quadruple heart bypass operation. In 1995, I suffered a third heart attack and reluctantly retired from the NHS.

"Following retirement I decided to develop a new career as a writer and journalist. My first article was published in October 1996.

"I have since written over 10,000 words and published around 260 photographs in 20 UK leisure and lifestyle magazines with a combined estimated readership of 2.5m."

Examples of his work and more information can be found at www.dannydog.co.uk or at sloughwriter.

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