Where are they now?

Sir Clive was a bit of Boy Genius. At the age of 19 he wrote Practical transistor receivers Book 1, which was reprinted 7 times. In 1973 he formed the company which would eventually become Sinclair Research Ltd, which produced and marketed a microcomputer kit called MK14.

In 1981 the company produced the Sinclair ZX81 which was available to buy for £69.95. This first machine was developed and went on to be every boy's dream machine within a couple of years. The ZX Spectrum and its more powerful sisters came about from this first machine.

By 1985 though, the dream was over for Sir Clive. Financial troubles lead to selling of assets, and the company itself being bought by AmstradAmstrad in 1986 for £6 million. The heavily publicised C5 vehicle failed to take off, and that side of the company was liquidised.

As A boy I remember playing around with ZX81, which a Uncle let me use. I spent weeks typing in code from a book that had hundreds of self-programmable games. I never got a single game to work!

When I first got a ZX Spectrum 48K, I was truly delighted. Just a nipper at the time, and during the fisty-cuffs between Maggie and Arthur Scargill. We did have to return approximately 5 machines to Comet, due to them constantly breaking down (nothing changes there it seems) but eventually we got a sturdy machine. The first game I ever played was Saboteur . I had seen nothing like it and was hooked...for life. I still play Spectrum games to this day, via emulators. The graphics are very poor in comparison to those available on the newest of gaming machines, but some of those old games have the best game play I have ever been part of.

Sir Clive is a member of Mensa, and was the Chairman for 17 years. he recently married his second wife, 36 years young than he. He does not use the internet, or a mobile phone, but is reported to always travel with a Slide Rule.

He recently appeared on a UK Poker Game Show and his most recent invention is a folding bicycle.

Do you mean people that you personally knew, or just people who affected you somehow? I'm guessing you didn't know Sir Clive Sinclair, so maybe I've answered my own question.

My first ever musical hero was Adam Ant. He was the first musician that I liked without being influenced by my parents. he first came to my attention around the age of about 5. I remember going to a fair where I lived and having my face painted like Adam Ant. I think I may have also used a few of my mother's elastaplasts in an attempt to mimic him. He was also the reason that I learned about Dick Turpin.

Stuart Goddard was born in 1955 and is of Romany descent. He attended Hornsey College of Arts for a spell but quit without completing a B.A. in Graphic Design. He was bass player for a group called "Bazooka Joe" who had the honour of being supported by a very influential punk band, The Sex Pistols in their first ever gig.

He formed Adam and The Ants in 1977, and they released the album "Dirk Wears White Sox" in 1979, which did not do to well, as the band were not in favour with the British Press. This lead him to approach Malcom McClaren to manage the band. which he did, without Adam. Adam reformed the band and signed to CBS records, releasing the album "Kings of the Wild Frontier" during 1980, which was very successful. This success continued with the album "Prince Charming" and lead to No 1 spots in the UK charts and 10 Number 10 singles.

Adam disbanded the group in 1982, released the single "Goody Two Shoes", did a spot of advertising for Honda and a few shows including Live Aid. In 1986 he turned to acting and has appeared in many a movie and T.V. show including Northern Exposure and Tales from the Crypt.

In 1989 he once again stepped into the music industry, but this was short lived as his album "Manners & Physique" failed to achieve a gold certification and MCA cancelled his contract. His latest album "Wonderful" was released in 1995 and the title track had success, which lead to a successful tour of America, three shows at The Sheperds Bush Empire and a mini tour of Virgin Record stores.

In 2002 he was charged with causing an affray and ordered to attend psychiatric care for chucking a car alternator through a pub window. In 2003 he was charged with affray and criminal damage and spent time in psychiatric wards for trying to smash the neighbour's patio door in with a shovel and then lying down on the concrete floor of a cafe basement with his trousers pulled down, curled up and trying to sleep. He has struggled with Bi_polar Disorder most of his life, and is open and honest about it, indeed sanctioning a BBC documentary called "The Madness of Prince Charming".

In March this year Adam performed several gigs in London, and the press have reported that he is back in the Studio after 16 years absence. He has continued to gig since then, although he recently curbed this activity having to attend a Psychiatric hospital. He has played at least one gig since.

Rock on Prince Charming, you are an inspiration! You introduced me to New Romantics, Punk, an individual chosen style of music, gave me an interest in English history and showed me that's OK to be happy with not being normal, if indeed there is one.