A graduate of Trinity College, Oxford, I worked in comprehensive schools in London, Sussex and Sheffield for many years as Head of English and Drama and in senior management before becoming Adviser for English and the Arts in Sheffield and Chair of Trustees for the charity Reading Matters. I was Artistic Director of Steel Valley Beacon Arts, a community arts programme, creating and directing many productions and community events. With support from the Arts Council, I wrote the libretto and produced the opera, Avalon, which toured major churches and cathedrals in Yorkshire.
I took early retirement to care for my wife. After her death, Trinity College gave me refuge for a term and the opportunity to develop poetry and drama from the study of Percy Bysshe Shelley. I gave a number of workshops with students on creative responses to literature study. Throughout my life I have maintained my academic interest in Literature. As a Friend of Coleridge I created the celebration of the two hundredth anniversary of the first publication of Kubla Khan and wrote two pamphlets about the poet's life and work.
I am a published writer of four novels, four poetry collections, many libretti and scripts for community and school musicals. I directed and hosted the British Museum's celebration of the refurbishment of the medieval galleries with music and readings including my translations and reworkings of Anglo-Saxon poetry. Those translations are published as Word Hoard.
I now live in Norfolk to be closer to my children and grandchildren. I continue to write and give readings. I am increasingly engaged in the local Church and community.
I am delighted to be a member of the small but perfectly formed Chalk River Poets. The group's first booklet about Binham Priory and other Norfolk ecclesiastical centres was launched on 25th May 2024 in the priory with readings and singing from the Walsingham Voices- lovely evening!
The Sea Shanty and Readings evening in aid of the Hunstanton and District Food Bank was held on Wednesday 10th April at 7pm in St Mary's Church, Docking.. It was a great success raising £700 for the Food Bank's work. Nelson's Shantymen sang valiantly and I, Paul Berry, Liz Radley and David Redfield spoke poems of the sea.
BytheBook Bookshop hosted a great launch of Forms from Chaos on 25th April at the Veranda in Hunstanton. Champagne, tapas, reading and comments followed by a celebration of poetry through an open mic- very enjoyable.
I visited Sheffield and Leeds for an initial tour of taster readings. 19th April at Stocksbridge Library; 17th April alongside Professor David Fairer in Leeds. The book proved very popular and sales were excitingly good!
Now planning a couple more readings in Norfolk- Fakenham Library and reading at the launch of Chalk River Poets' first booklet.
Many thanks to Adrian and Anna at BytheBook for a lovely recommendation review of "Forms from Chaos":
More readings now planned after a quiet Summer- Taunton in Somerset 21st September, Fakenham Library 25th September at 2pm, Steel Valley Arts Festival South Yorkshire 4th October- all systems go!
Meanwhile I am publishing a collection of poems for Christmas called "Precious the Seed" at the end of October. These poems have been written and read at various Advent events over the years and, with lovely illustrations from Diane Griffiths, will be available through local Norfolk Churches and bookshops.