Story of Simon Birch

People often ask about my inspirations and how I developed @the14thfactory. This is my story...

05

After my rave career failed I left the UK with about $50 in my pocket and ended up in Australia.

I worked odd jobs and met new people and embraced the outdoors. Surf, swim, rock climb, outback adventures. I found my BFF who was a rock climbing bum. He’s now a leading orthopaedic surgeon. He married a hippie model who is now an incredible force in medicine in the field of endocrinology. I'm godfather to their first son.

I managed to get back into the rave business, DJing and promoting, set up a DJ agency, toured Carl Cox and then Prodigy, and got to see every corner of the country. Did a lousy job.

On stage with The Prodigy
Partied with John Galliano, surfed with dolphins and sharks, lived in the wilderness, climbed all over the country, was asked to be a police informant against a bunch of drug dealers. I said no! And other wacky adventures....
I built a rock climbing gym, the biggest in Oz at the time. And I mean built literally, learning carpentry and metalwork on the job with the contractors. I was the proud owner and part builder of The Rockface and thought that would be my future, adventure sports entrepreneur but as usual, life had other plans.
Construction of Simon's rock climbing gym back in Australia

My visa ran out and I couldn't get the government to issue me an alternative, even as a business owner, and I was forced to leave it all behind.

I headed to Hong Kong in 1997, just before the British handed it back to the Chinese. Arrived with $50 in my pocket. Again.

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