I was born in South London and lived among the council flats surrounding the Oval cricket ground. My grammar school education was at Archbishop Tenison’s, on the  opposite side of the Oval from where I lived. After school, my plan to become a professional cricketer failed.

My next 40 years of employment were in stockbroking. Initially, my role was as an investment manager, and finally, as an equity research analyst. I enjoyed both. As an account manager, I had many clients, who I truly could call friends. During this period, I worked in and helped develop the Jersey office over a six-month period. I thoroughly njoyed the research role, covering many  sectors, but mainly Food and Beverages. I attended many conferences, in places such as Madrid, Milan and Scottsdale, Arizona.

I met my wife, Linda, while we were volunteering and helping to raise funds for Mencap. She has been the rock who has supported me. We have been happily married for over 40 years.

Travel has always been something I have enjoyed. On our honeymoon, we went to Singapore, Hong Kong and Bangkok. At the time, we thought this was the trip of a lifetime, but since then we have been several times to the USA, mainly on independent driving holidays to the east coast, Florida, Hawaii,  Memphis, Nashville, New Orleans, Yellowstone, Yosemite, Death Valley and Las Vegas. 

In the Far East, we ventured to Bali, returned to Hong Kong, Thailand and Singapore. 

Since retiring, we have been to Australia and New Zealand, visiting relatives along the way. We have also been to Cambodia and Vietnam, and cruised along the Danube and the Rhine.

We have travelled in Europe. When I played club cricket for the Buccaneers, every year we played against the   ex-pats in Paris and extended our trips by visiting vineyards in Burgundy, Champagne and the Loire, among others. Holidays in Spain, staying in Paradores, and in Portugal, staying in Pousadas provided much pleasure.

Upon retirement, I was told by Linda that I couldn’t just play golf for the rest of my life. So, I became a writer. I took an Open University Creative Writing course and then enrolled in the Writer’s Village Academy. Later, I was encouraged to write my first book, Loose Ends, which was based on 40 years of experience in stockbroking and my love of travel. 

Apart from golf and cricket, my many interests include the foods I have enjoyed from around the world and the drinks that go with them, particularly wine.

Linda and I now live in Buckinghamshire, which is a far cry from my youth amongst the council estates of South London.