Andy Thomas initially lived the majority of his life in Kent and then hopped over the border into East Sussex. He was educated locally and went on to college to specialise in business studies before entering the finance department of a local council. He has spent his entire career to date in local government, working for two neighbouring borough councils, the last 30 years of it in an investigative role of revenue protection and latterly running the specialised section. His interest in railways began at a young age and has remained firmly as his prime hobby and interest through life. Photography, mainly of railways, has developed over time and he has had a few photographs in various railway magazines over the years.