I was born in 1947 to a mother from Barnsley and a father from Essex. I have 3 great loves in my life: Barnsley FC, Yorkshire County Cricket Club and my wonderful wife. My wife is my rock; Yorkshire CCC are my summertime passion; the Super Reds break my heart year after year- but I wouldn't swap them for any other team in the world.

I have tried to look at the world of business through the gaze of a mixture of reality, humour and, on occasions, sheer disbelief. Every word and every event documented is the absolute truth. If you enjoy reading this book half as much as I enjoyed writing it, then I will have achieved more than I could ever have hoped for.