I was born In Failsworth, Manchester, sometime in the latter half of the 20^th Century. Not that I remember Failsworth because we moved around … a lot! Denton, Dukinfield, Carrbrook, Stalybridge, Hyde and Poynton places I remember. I went to six different schools. I am the eldest of four, with two brothers and a sister.

I nearly drowned when I was four and fell in the canal when my dad was fishing.

I was hit by a car when I was seven … thrown in the air and was unconscious for 48 hours. No broken bones but a black eye.

I wasn’t brilliant at school but I was in the top half of the class … usually. At sixteen I passed all my ‘O’ Levels but with only one Grade A, being Physics, which I have never used since although I can still recite Ohm’s Law.

I had intended to stay and do ‘A’ Levels but my parents wanted me working and bringing in a wage. Not being prepared for the job market, I took what I could get. That was a job at an insurance company and I attained my Associateship of the Chartered Insurance Institute at twenty-one. I have been in insurance industry ever since. I won’t say how long but if I was in the Police, I would have retired by now on full pension.

I had several jobs in my 20’s, even an abortive secondment to Oman which lasted just 12 days. Some years later, redundancy saw me move to London where I worked for a Lloyd’s broker. After a move and a period away I am now back there.

I live in Surrey and currently single. I play football, badminton, table tennis and snooker. I also enjoy puzzles and TV, not soaps or reality TV though, give me a good cop show any day.

See My Writing Story about my ongoing quest to become a recognised author.