About Me
"I grew up in a household that was part home and part publishing house. Two rooms were devoted entirely to producing magazines and books. We even printed a newsletter... so I was imbued with journalism from an early age."
Career:
I've worked as a freelance journalist in London and Hong Kong for the past 25 years. Keen to find new challenges, I started to edit material on behalf of Muse Publishing for the five-star Mandarin Oriental Hotel Group, in 2014, a move I've found hugely enjoyable.
For most of my freelance career, I've specialised in writing about property, travel, economics, interior design, architecture and social issues for dozens of publications, ranging from the Financial Times to The Big Issue to the South China Morning Post. I was property editor at Hong Kong's Sunday Morning Post for several years during this time. Many of these publications have published my supporting photographs too.
Prior to becoming a freelancer, I wrote and edited brochures, briefing papers, reports and articles for the Association of County Councils (now part of the Local Government Association) and represented the organisation at academic conferences.
I began my journalistic career in London in 1986, helping to produce What Investment, Investment International and The Stockbroker and City Investor magazines. I edited student magazine, Pendragon, while at Lancaster University.
Qualifications:
MSc (Econ) in West European Politics from the London School of Economics.
BA (Hons) in Politics and International Relations from Lancaster University.
Post-Graduate Certificate in Periodical Journalism from the London College of Printing (now London College of Communication).
GRI Certified Training Programme Certificate in Sustainable Report writing
Motivation:
I grew up in a household that was part home and part publishing house. Two rooms were devoted entirely to producing magazines and books. We even printed a weekly newsletter. My father, mother and two of my five siblings worked together in these activities and at the main publishing business, Turret Press Holdings, so I was imbued with journalism from an early age.
I chose to follow an independent path and not enter the "family businesses", because I wanted to prove my worth among strangers, some of whom are now my friends.
I love learning about new things. For me, journalism has been an opportunity to become a life-long student and get paid for it, with each new project presenting new knowledge and ideas. I enjoy playing with the English language, which has a wealth of words for writers to choose from, making it possible for all manner of literary tricks to be employed, ranging from alliteration to alternating between punchy Anglo-Saxon and elegant Latin-based vocabularies.
Everything else:
I live in Richmond, south west London, where I'm a local government councillor. When not working, I like to volunteer at the local foodbank, walk along the Thames or go dancing. I love cricket, fine art and getting close to nature, and have recently come to enjoy cooking.
How I work:
We meet. You brief me. I do the work. You give me feedback. Repeat.
Like most of my clients, I use Microsoft Office 365 software. However, as a Mac user, I do have Pages.
When time allows, I leave my sub-conscious to digest thorny problems, while I work on another part of the project or do something entirely different. By the time I come back to that problem, I usually find a solution has found its way to the front of my mind. When time doesn't allow, I just get on with it and focus, focus, focus.
...and Where
I mainly work "from home" at a mix of locations that aren't actually home. These include a cafe by the River Thames, because fresh air frees the mind and oxygenates the body. I use Kew Gardens as an outdoor office in summer.
Also, I work suited and booted within the grand Victorian interiors of London's National Liberal Club, where the high ceilings and elegant decor elevate spirit and work ethic.
For a very different environment, but no less inspiring, I like to work from my local community centre, which runs a drop-in for the homeless and foodless.
And, in Hong Kong, The Foreign Correspondents' Club and gargantuan Central Library make excellent workspaces.
I'm happy to work from a client's premises, as I have done for the BBC and South China Morning Post. If travel is required then that's no problem too.