Geoff's new venture, a double-glazing manufacturing firm, is a far cry from his past professions.

He has served in the Marines during the Falklands Conflict, travelled round the world on cruise ships and was a bodyguard for Muhammed Al Fayed shortly before the death of Princess Diana.

He joined the Royal Marines in 1978 and left as a sergeant after 16 years of service, during which time he was mentioned in Despatches and honoured for his spirit and bravery.

After leaving the Marines, Geoff worked as Mr Al Fayed's bodyguard for six months before joining a Royal Carribean International cruise ship as an onboard security officer.

"I felt I had done everything I wanted to do with the Marines so I left while I was still young enough to do something different," said Geoff.

As security officer, Geoff said he was exposed to "the dirtier side of cruise ships" which included dealing with a murder onboard and countless drugs hauls.

He has even managed to mix a little Hollywood glamour in his gritty life by taking part in the filming of the 1997 James Bond blockbuster Tomorrow Never Dies with Pierce Brosnan and Teri Hatcher.

"I was an extra in what was supposed to be a German nightclub scene" he said,

"It was actually the IBM building at Heathrow and they cut me out in the end.

"I met Pierce Brosnan as I was coming out of the toilets so it didn't seem like the right time to talk to him!" joked Geoff.

He finished his career on cruise ships in 2003 to work in Iraq for a security firm for just over four years, during which time Geoff said he "saw everything".

"We were protecting engineers, making sure they could get to places safely and advising them where not to go, though we often had to go to those places anyway because that was the job," he said.

He is also awaiting publication of a book he has written about his experiences entitled Bubbles The Commando.

The title refers to his military nickname, acquired from the 1980s TV programme The Lovers in which a character called Geoffrey was referred to as Geoffrey Bubbles Bomb Bomb.

"It is quite ironic, a Marine called Bubbles," said Geoff.

A quieter life now beckons as this week he opens his window manufacturing company EllaNor on the Bempton Lane Industrial Estate with his business partner Martin Ellis.

"For me the UK is still a novelty," Geoff said.

"I have been travelling all my life and will definitely miss it. Although it's my intention to be back here for good, I'd never say never.

"My life has been so up and down that I know I could never say anything is concrete."

Geoff said he was looking forward to the "new challenge" presented by EllaNor though one imagines he will cope just fine.

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