What can I tell you about myself?
First up, I am born, bred and based in Rugby, Warwickshire, England (the birthplace of rugby football no less). Several years of travels and ‘unofficial residency’ in the Southern Hemisphere in my early-to-mid 20s has seen things gone full circle and I now live and work a short walk from where I grew up.
For my day job, I am a freelance copywriter with clients in travel and tourism, and sport, leisure and fitness. You can find my website here.
Part of this work is also involved in publishing where I am Content Editor and Feature Writer for Discover Britain for Groups, a quarterly-published travel trade magazine.
Alongside that, I am freelance writer and journalist, with a particular focus and interest in sport, travel (destinations and visitor attractions; local, regional, national and international), food and drink; and local and regional social history.
I also operate a small sports tour and group travel concern, Great Central Sports Tours (specialising in sports tours in the UK and Ireland for teams, clubs and schools)
I am husband to Di, dad to Jake and Abi, and co-keeper to Benny the Cat.
I have been a qualified Sports coach for over thirty years with various FA and ECB coaching and medical qualifications to my name. Still an avid cricketer (better using the ball than bat – I think anyway!) but now only a very part-time player. I am an ECB-qualified coach and was a junior coach and team manager for several age group teams at Willoughby Cricket Club (Warwickshire) and the club’s junior cricket coordinator for 18 years up until 2019. I am still the club’s Press and Media Officer of close to 25 years now.
‘Semi-retired’ footballer now playing 5-a-side most weeks, this having played 11-a-side for 25 years up to non-league standard in the UK and Australia (including as player-manager for a few years). ‘Keen’ follower of many years of Nottingham Forest FC, and Berwick Rangers FC as well as keeping an eye out for Portsmouth FC and Rugby Town FC.
Whilst football and cricket are my main sporting interests, I do follow most sports including rugby union, rugby league (including the NRL), AFL (Australian Rules Football) and in recent years the NFL (American Football). And whilst I have always had a passing interest in the sport – but never been that proficient as such, I have also taken more of an interest and looked to improve my golf in recent times (I do have a Midlands-based golf centre as one of my longstanding clients after all)
Perhaps it reflects my love of all things water, I am still a a regular swimmer (at least four times a week), a regular user of the local outdoor gyms, as well as trying to fit in some casual cycling when I can too.
That’s for starters. There’s a fair bit more besides which will become apparent over time.
I am always open and interested to explore new places, meet new people and write about my experiences. So if you are an owner, director, marketing manager or someone who is involved and responsible for the promotion of a destination, attraction or venue, please do get in touch. I would love to meet you, and come and visit and find out more.
My contact details are here so please give me a call or drop me a line by email.
Alternatively, why not send me a message on the contact form below.
I look forward to hearing from and hopefully meeting you.
The Landlocked Traveller 