I’ve always enjoyed world travel and associated bird watching and more recently regular broadcasting. I’m passionate about classical music and opera. For my sins, I’ve been elected President of the popular Preston Historical Society for the last five consecutive years. In retirement, I have kept out of mischief by going back to university and becoming an established author of twelve books including the history of Grimsargh. I’m proud that my published works have been publicly recognized by celebrities including Michael Portillo, Roy Barraclough, Jim Bowen, Joan Morecambe; Betty Driver and football legend Sir Tom Finney whom I was honoured to know.
Doubtless, my inspiration for writing has been fuelled by my considerable interest in both natural and social history. In fact, I’ve been interested in the natural world ever since being knee-high to a grasshopper. Talking about grasshoppers it was the biodiversity of the three decommissioned Grimsargh Reservoirs and recognition of their potential importance for the community and wildlife that drove me to successfully campaign for their ultimate preservation. This was achieved with key designated conservation status to help thwart the prospect of the bulldozers in 2003. I’m obviously very pleased that the relaunched ‘Grimsargh Wetlands,’ a site I have known and visited for many years, will shortly become a local nature reserve which will be owned by Grimsargh Parish Council. I despise the term nimbyism and therefore will continue to strive to preserve the rural essence Grimsargh, a former agricultural hamlet with Norse origins and a particularly interesting social history.
I was married to the late Dorothy Hindle for forty-three years, who tragically passed away in 2013. I’m the father of Caroline now residing in Wimbledon with her lovely family. Fortunately, my family remains closely knit and I have several close relatives residing in the village.