I never wanted to be a professional pilot - loved home too much!! But I loved aeroplanes and still do..
I wanted to be a controller, preferable at London/Heathrow from age around 12... It was something that totally fascinated me. I collected various aviation charts, which were plastered on my bedroom wall and frequently visited London Airport. I was a cadet in the ATC from around that age and was a keen spotter. I also took the opportunity to visit control towers. First was at RAF Lyneham on an ATC camp but I later chatted up the staff at Battersea heliport and spent a most enjoyable couple of hours in the tower there while I was still a schoolboy. I was also very interested in radio communications and have been a shortwave listener and, subsequently, a licenced amateur for about 55 years.
Cutting short...... I spent my last 31 years working as a controller at Heathrow so I fulfilled my ambition and loved every minute of it.