John Ayress

John Ayress (1956) was born in Clacton, England, into a musical family, the eldest son of a classical pianist and mother a local choir singer. He spent his childhood in Bristol and later in Ware, Hertfordshire, and was subjected to a secondary, comprehensive education. A confessed autodidact with a love for history and philosophy, he also claims a modest talent for poetry, prose, drawing and musical composition. The latter he ‘discovered’ later on in life, and it became his overriding passion. In 2000 he recorded 16 of his romantic piano pieces on CD, entitled ’Suite Nostalgia’, in collaboration with Nobuko Takahashi, an established concert pianist. After meeting Antonia (Tony) in 1976, John, then an assistant golf-professional, relocated to the Netherlands and took a degree in Dutch law, followed by a basic training in mediation. During this period, John’s writing abilities resurfaced and resulted in some poetry, prose, and two academic articles. His present book, A Rose on the Dunghill, is his debut as a published author. It is a tribute to the love of his life Tony, an amazing woman whom he portrays in a delightful mix of the biographical and autobiographical, woven around the theme of the meaning of life. John currently lives and works in the Netherlands. Contact him at: johnayress@tele2.nl