I've been playing games of one sort or another since.. errr... 1980? That sounds right.
Started with a mishmash of AD&D and Basic D&D (the one with the wizard, the warrior drawing a bow and a red dragon on the cover).
I had the privilege of teaching kids to play RPGs for several years at Bradford College at a summer program called College Academy, 1989 or so. Taught them Shadowrun, Chill, Warhammer RPG and others.