About Me
Early Life
My parents ran the newsagency kiosks on the bus station in Bolton (where I am pictured at the age of 26!!) I spent many hours helping out in the kiosks, as well as proof reading comics and testing the confectionery.
After my Mum sadly died as a result of having Multiple Sclerosis in 1973, interspersed with an ongoing education, Dad and I ran the business until 2000. During that time, I indulged my passion for racing sailboats, being fortunate to compete at national and international level in a variety of boats, most enjoyably the International 470 dinghy.
Later Life
I still enjoy sailing dinghies, much less competitively now but still as enjoyably. I own a Laser dinghy and a GP14 dinghy which I mainly sail at Halifax Sailing Club, augmented by odd trips to events at other sailing clubs which take my fancy.
Family
After graduating from Liverpool University, Judith was a journalist with the Wakefield Express before leaving to start a family, raising daughter Amy and son John in Bradford. She re-started working life as a tutor in ESOL to adults and now runs classes in writing for well-being.
We like to get out and enjoy the glorious Calderdale countryside, particularly enjoying cycling on our tandem (see Gallery), enjoy going to various kinds of live music events and have recently started attending ballroom dancing classes.
My stepson, John, lives o'er t'hill in Blackpool with his partner Kerry and her daughter Taylor Ann, working for Matalan, whilst my stepdaughter Amy, married to Eliezer, lives in Baildon and has four children; Isabella, Seth, Ineza and Noah. Judith and I enjoy helping out with the family (see Gallery).