My story
I was born in Turnpike Lane in London and moved around a lot – my father was a sergeant in the RAF. We lived in Lincolnshire, London, Malta and Wiltshire – then, I too joined the RAF, entering on boy service through RAF Cosford.
I served largely in Europe in NATO and also briefly in the Indian Ocean, with a detachment to Singapore. I retired as a wing commander in 1996 and went on to work for the British Red Cross and later ran a sight loss charity in Surrey.
After retirement, I continued to write and support the delivery of humanitarian aid to refugees in places like Kosovo, Serbia and the Greek islands, mainly Cheos and Lesbos.
I have been privileged to meet some amazing people, for example, those who run Hope and Aid Direct (HAAD) who work has moved from the Balkans to Greece and is now wholly focussed on Ukraine. The cafe owner on Lesbos who gave 30 people a meal, twice a day, 7 days a week calling it 'home for a day'. The guy who swam from Turkey to Greece to gain asylum, and who then set up a charity on Lesbos providing food and warmth for arrivals. Also, a woman who set up a hostel for women unused to mixing in Greek multi-sex society. Sadly in this case it was also about looking after some women who had been abused,
The pic on the right shows a Roma family, 12 to a room in Kosovo, below refugees arrive in a small inflatable - sadly, their plight is not over.
My life’s experiences help feed my stories. Delivering humanitarian aid has, I believe, made me a better person. To see others in dire straits puts one’s own problems into perspective.
The bravery of displaced people in Kosovo, leaving their fragmented homes, having suffered a lot of misery and danger, touched my heart. So did the sight of refugees who braved the sea between Turkey and the Greek islands. European politicians have a role to play - and for some years they did very little.
Two of my short stories in Horizons I and based on what I have heard first hand from refugees: The Game and The Choice. Others, like, Why and The Journey just ask questions.
I enjoy sailing in Greece, and on other seas when I get the chance. But I do love Greece, its scenery, history and its people – oh, and the food!
Even here, I meet some pretty amazing characters, some so strange, but interesting and others with such a wide experience of Greek waters. It's also good to look back at the UK through foreign eyes.
I live in the small village of Upper Quinton, near Stratford Upon Avon, in Warwickshire. I have two amazing daughters who are both teachers and who have given me four grandsons, who row and cycle ,and put their lazy grandfather to shame! I am also lucky to have a partner who lives in York, who is my muse and takes all the flak when I don't get my writing right.