Born in North East Britain, Northumberland 1964 (near the Scottish borders). The son of a Tyneside ship builder, his mother managed a local candy store on the corner of Gerald Street in Wallsend. His earliest claim to fame was that he lived two blocks west of the now internationally famous singer and song-writer Sting. A childhood colored by the land, history and culture; ancient Roman ruins, medieval castles, Celtic saints, the industrial heritage, the river and the sea. His first job was as a construction laborer, but later went toback toformal studiesand gra... more