About me...
Although I won a place to Tavistock Grammar School, and later Plympton Grammar School, I left school at sixteen with no qualifications because I wanted money in my pocket. After serving in the Royal Air Force I tried a number of occupations, including running my own business. I made a lot of money and lost a lot of money.
I started writing in my late forties, albeit these were pantomimes, plays and murder mystery scripts for the stage. My first book, “Memories of Childhood”, which, as the title suggests, was about my early life, was published in 2006. This proved so popular that it was followed in 2008 by “The Book of Shaugh Parish”, an anthology of stories provided by the people who had lived in the area. My latest book, “101 Forgotten Gadgets” published in 2016 evolved from my regular articles “Grandma’s Gadgets” which, as I’ve already said, have appeared in my local newspaper for the last 6 years. The book features over a hundred objects featured in those articles.
About my Talk/Quiz...
The only equipment I need is a 6 – 8 foot table and about 10 minutes to set up.
I have presented my “Forgotten Gadgets talk/quiz to all types of organisations including Rotary, Probus, Towns Women’s Guild, WI, U3A, 41 Club, Local History Societies, antique collectors groups and Senior Citizens Groups. I have been invited back to speak again year after year by many of them. (I change my collection annually). The events have also included after-dinner engagements and charity fund raising events.
Fee:
I charge £1.50 per head for each member of the audience with a minimum charge of £40.00 and a maximum of £60.00. Mileage is charged if the venue is over 15 miles from Abergavenny.
Willing to travel to Herefordshire, Blaenau Gwent, Caerphilly, Monmouthshire, Newport, Torfaen, Cardiff, Merthyr Tydfil.
