I am a a freelance journalist and author, and have had many books, articles, innumerable crosswords and puzzles published, whilst also compiling and marketing quizzes.

More than half of my books have been on the subject of the origins of place-names and I have been the guest speaker at several events, including last year’s BBC events at Gloucester and Coventry as part of the Great British Story series. My talks not only cover the origins of towns and villages but also hills, streams, districts, fields, streets, and even public houses. 2019 sees the release of my books on English Pub Names and Crime on the Canals.

My other talks included:

• the paranormal

• pub names

• street names

• privies

• humorous etymologies

• animal myths

• salt routes

• ley lines

• Watling street

• the Saxon era

• the fastener industry

• talking butts