As you might guess from my daffodil logo below and the flag on the right, I come from Wales – "Gwlad y gân", the Land of Song. And the land of much else besides: Celtic myth and legend, a long poetic and literary tradition, strong religious Nonconformity and radical politics, and wonderful scenic beauty. Wales has three of Britain's national parks – Brecon Beacons (near where I was brought up), Pembrokeshire Coast, and Snowdonia.
My birthplace is Llanelli, once famous for rugby and tinplate – the tinplate has gone now, but rugby is still thriving. I was brought up in southeast Wales, in Merthyr Tydfil on the edge of Wales's coal-mining valleys. Merthyr once had iron- and steelworks, then it had factories making washing machines, toys, nylons, and aircraft controls. But all that's gone too. Today Merthyr has electronics and light industries.
I graduated with honours in Latin from the University of Wales (Swansea). I thought I'd be a teacher but ended up in publishing instead. I've lived in southeast England and worked in reference-book publishing since 1971. I've resided in Buckinghamshire and now have a home in Greater London, where I live with my lovely wife Tessa and our sweet Dalmatian Belle. Tessa and I sing in a local choir. In fact, we met through singing. You could say that choral singing is my main passion. Like many Welsh people, I've enjoyed singing almost all my life. I've sung in dozens of big choirs. But I've also done some solo singing and chamber choir work. I'm a Welsh tenor – one of a vanishing breed, it seems.
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