I am a retired school teacher and, for more than 40 years, have lectured, primarily about the Wealden iron industry, at conferences and to local societies and adult education audiences. I have also appeared occasionally in a specialist role on radio and television. I gained my MA in Regional and Local History from the University of Brighton in 1993. I am a Fellow of the Society of Antiquaries of London and until recently was an Honorary Research Fellow of Exeter University. I was Chairman of the Wealden Iron Research Group for 24 years and am now the editor of its annual journal. I am the author of two books: The Wealden Iron Industry, published in 2008, and British Cast-Iron Firebacks, published in 2010.