The year was 1980 when I realised my life would change… I used to work as an IT consultant and I made up my mind that I was going to leave London and go somewhere cheaper.

I just happened to be going through one of the computer magazines during my break and I noticed a tiny advert about an IT consultant’s job in Milton Keynes. I had never heard of Milton Keynes and had no idea where it was but I just got curious and I rang up and got the job.

Abdul outside the Magistrates Court where he works as an interpreter

The thing that attracted me was that when I drove past the shopping centre I was fascinated with the structure of the building… After the interview I got the job offer and I was told that if you had a job the MK development Corporation would find you accommodation within 6 weeks or so and I found that quite attractive.