Born and brought up in the Birmingham area, I moved to London after university to work in central government, and have lived there more or less ever since.  After a series of government roles, concluding as Director General, Public Services at the Treasury (2009-11), I am now doing a mix of non-executive and voluntary roles, currently in the NHS, housing, and homelessness.  These jobs  keep me off the streets, whereas the research about journeys which gets me onto the streets.  I am married to Judith, and in our spare time we enjoy walking, holidays, and watching sport.

In 2017, I published a book about the London to Holyhead road, “This Ancient Road: London to Holyhead, a Journey through Time” (RedDoor Publishing).