“I grew up in South Wales and in those days there was a heavy drinking culture. I started drinking with my friends as a teen. I was the life and soul of the party after six pints, and my boozing continued into my university years. In fact, I later dropped out of university because I didn’t have any direction - drinking was it for me," says David Price, 72, a steam locomotive driver who splits his time between Pontypool, South Wales, and Calstock, Cornwall. He is married to Vivien, 76, a textile artist and has one grown up daughter from a previous marriage, and two grandchildren.

• 'Boozing and drugs saw me end up in prison - now I’m teetotal and a proud dad'

"While I didn't drink every day, whenever I did I would drink to excess, and this carried on throughout my life. When I started to work on the railways I stopped drinking during the week, but compensated by getting bladdered at the weekend. I met my wife in 2000, and I know there were times she wished I would stop.