Derbyshire is my home and has been for 30 years. Our children grew up here and are now in their 30s and 40s. Obviously they have all flown the nest and live and work in various parts of the country but are frequent visitors to our family home and village. I am part of a large extended family with several generations and when we get together for important occasions, Christmas, birthdays and recently a Golden Wedding there is always laughter, an atmosphere of benign chaos, food and people of all ages having fun together. I am lucky enough to live adjacent to public footpaths through gorgeous landscapes where I go walking as often as I can.

I’ve spent my working life as an actor, writer, teacher of actors and director, supplementing this with work as a supply teacher in primary schools in Derby. I am no longer involved in supply teaching though I look back on this phase of my life with huge affection and a certain amount of hilarity. I have always found the company of children to be really uplifting due to their particular wisdom, originality, enthusiasm for life, spontaneity and unconscious humour.

The villlage where I live and local small town are busy places with lots going on. I love music, sing in a large choir and also in a quartet. I belong to a village craft group full of very talented people where I’m attempting to develop my rather basic skills in handicraft! Our traditional May Day celebrations are fast approaching; an important day in our social calendar. I teach as part of a voluntary group in Derby that seeks to support new arrivals to our city who often arrive with very little English. Reading, current affairs, cinema and theatre visits and the company of my friends and family are important parts of my life.