I was born in North London, but I was raised in Hackney, or Shoreditch, as it was known back in the day. I had a comprehensive education, and I left school without any qualifications in 1968. My first job was as a trainee motor mechanic, but that only lasted a few weeks as the governor at the time seemed to take objection to me turning up late nearly every morning. After one or two garages later, it soon become apparent that motor mechanics was not for me. Well, okay work of any kind was a general interruption to my day at the time, but I persevered and I thought I would give screen printing a trial. I started with this small firm and was doing okay, and I was sent to the London College of printing for a term, but in my return, I was sacked and the firm went under a week or so later. Then I saw a "Boy Wanted for Bake House" poster in the local pie and mash shop (pie and mash is a traditional cockney dish), so I thought, well, that may see me over for a few weeks. I was there for eleven years. I finished in the shop selling rather than making it. The shop closed in 1980. I spent the rest of my working life as a salesman and an accounts rep for the local electricity supplier. I always kept involved in local community issues, chairing the local residents committee for a while. In 2010 I was diagnosed with Parkinson's disease, and after the initial coming to terms with the disease, I felt there were many things I could not do anymore so I concentrated more on those that I could and discovered new challenges. I have always tried to be a half-glass-full type of guy, and this first book is my new first challenge.
