Profile

"The poems have been written for children, but I hope people of all ages will enjoy them. In my writing I have been very much influenced by my experiences and especially my surroundings.

I have spent my life with young people. My wife and I have five children and ten grandchildren. I was a teacher for thirteen years, a headteacher for twenty-two and a youth worker for sixteen.

I was born in Bradford. When I was young it was a thriving mill town with smoke covering the whole area every day, influencing poems like 'The Snowflake and Dancing Queen'. I now live on the moor's edge between Airedale and Wharfedale, hence 'The Solitary Shepherd' and 'The Shepherd's Hut'. My granddaughters have loved stories of magic so 'Autumn Mist' and 'Patterns on a Pane' were for them. 'The Reluctant Star' coming from a grandson who did not want to play a star in his school nativity. 'Christmas Candles' and 'The forgotten Snowman' also coming from things they have said and done. They have kept us young and full of fun.

Like other writers, I just love writing hoping, my readers can see the images that I see when I write."