Writing
Writing and publishing has long been an interest and when time is available it gives a chance to resolve key personal and professional projects as well as expanding the skills.
Books
Research on the biography of a Jersey lichenologist Charles du Bois Larbalestier broadened into a lengthy section on the history of lichenology in Jersey and its international significance for the co-authored book The Lichens of Jersey. The section also discusses the input of other lichenologists and gives an insight into the world of botany before the existence of many of the societies that we now take for granted.
In 2015. the publication of It's Warmer Down Below: the autobiography of Sir Harold Harding, 1900-1986, the long-awaited book brought into publication the story of the 'tunneler extraordinaire' whose sense of humour, dignity and belief in civil engineering made virtually all who met him inspired and warmed by his contact. The book was published by Tilia Publishing UK and launched at the Institution of Civil Engineers. It is available from www.tiliapublishinguk.co.uk for £19.95 plus p&p.
My new book, published in October 2025 is In their Landscape: the churches, chapels and ruined places of worship in the South Downs National Park. The launch was in St Margaret's church in Ditchling and was a wonderful buzz of chatter. This is a book closest to my normal work and yet had a freedom to the content to include gossip.
Further books have included a children's wildlife book called Freckles and Friends and a book on cuddly toys called Meet the Team.
A book in preparation is the completion of Simon Davey's Dr Francis Rose: a Force for Nature - a biographical memoir of his mentor and good friend who was the author of the Wild Flower Key and inspiration behind many of David Bellamy's television programmes among multiple other major contributions to natural history.
Several personal projects are ongoing, including:
Edmund Blair Leighton:
Setting an Artist in his World, developing the role of new patrons and new techniques and
evaluating the role of Sandemanians on developing the mind of a young artist.