I was born in 1945 to poor working class parents who were in the Forces during WWII. Dad and Mum both worked to keep our heads above water. I dropped out of school at the age of 14, at 16 I joined the Royal Engineers at the Junior Leaders regiment in Dover. I served as a Sapper for nearly twelve years during the 60s and 70s, visiting Cyprus, Singapore, Sarawak, Sharjah, Oman and Northern Ireland, never rising above the rank of lance-corporal due to an attitude described as ‘bolshie’. I also worked for 10 years as a bulldozer mechanic. I was made redundant during the Thatcher years, I took the qualifications that I had achieved at night school in Wakefield and went full time to Sheffield University and got a degree in English Literature and then worked as an English teacher. I think I am now fully retired and spend my time writing. I am married and my wife has just joined me in retirement, we have one son who has graduated with a First in Fine Art.