My grandfather, who published a book on the history of his local church, instilled in me an interest in local and family history research. Retirement has allowed me the time to indulge that interest.

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In 2014 I took up an opportunity advertised in the local newspaper for volunteers to take part in a project at Trafford Local Studies to make public the range of its resources on the First World War. I researched a number of aspects in the archive material and local historic newspapers including the lives of those that were awarded medals for gallantry. I published some articles on GM 1914, a moderated blog, supported by the Imperial War Museum, which was set up to share research on the war from across Greater Manchester. One of these on the subject of Belgian Refugees in Stretford was published by the Greater Manchester Archives and Local Studies Partnership in book form in 'GM 1914 First World War Stories' in 2016. I made a significant contribution to the research and writng of ' The Bravest Little Street in England' which told the story of the bravery of the many men of Chapel Street in Altrincham who took part in the war, published by Amberley in 2018.

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As well as undertaking historical research I am a morris dancer with Bollin Morris (Border), Lymm Morris (North West) and Thelwall Morris (Cotswold). I play a number of fretted instruments with the folk band Nelson Peach and  the ceilidh band Neezzupp.