Born in Zambia, I lived in Cape Town, before leaving on a transport ship in 1944 to return 'home' to England. My parents wanted to be with their families, even though World War 2 had not ended.
We...view moreBorn in Zambia, I lived in Cape Town, before leaving on a transport ship in 1944 to return 'home' to England. My parents wanted to be with their families, even though World War 2 had not ended.
We lived in Kent, Surrey, Yorkshire and Norfolk before I went to Royal Holloway College, University of London, to read English (including Old English and Modern Drama). I have lived and taught in Suffolk since my marriage in 1964, and eventually became Head of English and Drama at Woodbridge School.
What is important to me? My family; literature, both reading and writing; theatre, on both sides of the curtain and travel. I am very fortunate to have travelled almost worldwide, from Iceland to Australia.
I am a National Trust volunteer at Sutton Hoo (site of the famous ship burial and treasure) and a Sutton Hoo Society Guide. I thoroughly enjoy sharing the history of Sutton Hoo with thousands of visitors each year. Renewing my acquaintance with the Anglo-Saxons re-awakened my interest in their language, culture and customs, and lead me to write two Anglo-Saxon historical novels based in the land of the Wuffings in the 7th century AD.
Apart from this writing, among the most exciting things I have done are swimming with dolphins on the Florida Keys, scuba-diving on the Great Barrier Reef and acting in the National Drama Festivals, where I was lucky enough to get a nomination in the Final.
Writing is something of a fourth career, as I have also worked as a TV film extra and run a local bookshop. As our forebears knew, life is for living and knowledge is for sharing: I enjoy giving talks to local societies and book clubs as well as doing book-signings.view less