Born London 1938, raised in Kent. Like most small boys in wartime south-east England wanted to be a Spitfire pilot. Ambition ended with war. Why be a fighter pilot when there's nobody left to fight? Barely educated at Sevenoaks School, but able to write. Filed reports to local press on motor-racing meetings at age 14. At 16 offered cub reporter jobs by Kent Messenger and Kent & Sussex Courier. Chose KM in Sevenoaks and walked past old school in trench-coat, nodding to ex-classmates still wearing straw hats.

National service RAF 1959-61, no flying, desk-bound erk but completed first, bad novel. Write about what you know, they said. I knew nothing. Joined Smiths Industries in '62 editing group newspaper, then into public relations with international agencies in London. Rose from account executive to managing director in ten years.

Wrote part-time, submitting scripts for TV; Armchair Theatre, Yorkshire TV. Came close to succeeding but not close enough. Married now with children opted to return to writing at fifty, with money in the bank. Did so, retiring as chairman of European PR network. Blue Man Falling born out of chance remark to Headline Publishing editor, and rediscovery of fascination with the RAF at war. Also recognised similarities between fighter pilots and racing drivers so able to use experience as club racer having competed for forty years in many cars, notably single-seater Formula Fords. Still racing, despite many hairy moments, but never seriously hurt.

Ambition now: write more books about Blue Man Falling characters, a good novel about motor-racing by someone who's done more than watch, teach four grandchildren to sail and buy a Bugatti Type 57B.