News / Blog Items

I have just received the advanced copy of my latest book The Cordwainer's Daughter from the publisher and it looks to be exactly what I'd hoped for. The book is now able to be purchased through Amazon in most countries and will eventually be available from the major on-line book stores. Front Cover of The Cordwainer's Daughter

Ethel Pocock, my grandmother was a diminutive powerhouse of a woman, born in England to a Kentish cordwainer (bespoke shoemaker) in the middle of Queen Victoria’s reign when women were not permitted to amount to much, no matter how talented they were. Growing up in a close-knit family with seven other siblings, her dream was to build a career as a buyer in the clothing industry and one day have her own family. Fate had other ideas, however, and placed many obstacles in her wa

Charles Henry and Eliza Harriet Pocock Whilst researching for my next book, the true story of the early life of my grandmother Ethel Pocock, who was brought up in Rochester, Kent in the Queen Victoria era, I came across a surprising link between my great-grandparents Henry and Elisa Pocock and Charles Dickens. Not only did Henry Pocock look after Charles Dickens' bee hives, he measured and made shoes for Charles Dickens and also played cricket with Charles Dickens and others

A Long Journey It has been a long process. Almost three years ago, I first came across the name of John Maxton Ramsay. I was captivated by his story and felt compelled to learn more. After much research and persistence, I’m thrilled to share that the Commonwealth War Graves Commission has finally updated its records. They have marked the 300th burial at the Ma'Asker Al Raschid RAF Cemetery (formerly the Hinaidi RAF Peace Cemetery) in Baghdad. Even more exciting, they have add

As a writer and researcher I make it a habit of avoiding anything to do with AI as its wordy output often sounds authoritative but is invariably incorrect when it comes to the actual details. Having read the following blog suggestion created by AI, I considered that it might be worth publishing the text verbatim as it gives a pretty good background to the story behind the allied cemeteries in Iraq. What is does not address however, are the British Military cemeteries that hav

LAC Sidney Ivor Kerslake 5 Armoured Car Company, Royal Air Force and younger brother