Born in Portsmouth in 1974 Richard was a tumbleweed from the start - rolling via Brussels to the US as a youngster and
then via the Falklands across the southern UK as an adolescent. Public school heightened his interest in the world - while
commuting by jumbo jet to his various Royal Navy and RAF appointed homes.
He has had many
adventures. He was an expert sailor on a sailing ship around the US Mid West. He has sailed round every corner of the UK except
Lands End (despite 4 attempts, storms have always sent him back to Newlyn). He has walked and canoed lengths of the Appalachians,
and traveled extensively in Europe. He has lived in 30 different towns and cities across the UK, Europe and US. During his
MA at University College Falmouth he took up kite buggying, a sport he has returned to in Dorset. He has experienced the torments
of serious mental illness, yet during recovery went and did a 1 year MA - nothing really phases him.
In
2007 he published a book on the mental health system, launching his freelance print journalism career - he now writes in social
work, nursing, learning disability, first aid and mental health titles.
Marrying
Penny in 2008, they moved to the Forest of Dean where the lure of the Brecon Beacons were too much, and walked extensively
there, Herefordshire and the borderlands between. On our recent move to Weymouth Richard is now the multimedia expert for
Fair Votes for Dorset. As a trades unionist and disabled person he views improving democracy in the UK as a major step away
from our monarchic, feudal past.
