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!
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!
Many thanks to Adrian and Anna at BytheBook for a lovely recommendation review of "Forms from Chaos":
Amazon also carries two fine reviews of the book, but it would be good to have more sales through that outlet.
More readings in Fakenham and Hunstanton proved successful and I was in Taunton on 17th April for a wonderful session at Brendon Books. It was so good to see YOUNG people in the audience and the response from all was incredibly positive. Thank you Somerset!
My collection of Christmas poetry, "Precious the Seed" was printed by Fakenham Press with lovely illustrations by Di Byford. 120 copies were distributed through the local benefice churches in and around Docking. There are only five copies left and I hope to produce another companion booklet of Lent and Easter poems for 2026 plus a reprint of the Christmas ones next year.
I have completed the first draft of my fourth novel and a few friends are reading it and giving feedback. Title- "Madonna's Children". More details to follow.
One last bit of information. After last year's fantastic Sea Shanty with Poetry Night, I am organising another for 14th November - long time ahead but good for the diary.
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