At the age of 5, I fell out with my parents big time and was left with no option but to leave home. I could barely lift my father’s leather suitcase high enough but with my teddy, a packet of biscuits and a book, I set off to seek my fame and fortune on life’s highways and byways. Within 100 yards of my former family home, my father appeared and begged me to think again. I listened carefully to his presentation and after due reflection and having weighed up my options agreed to return home where my mother had a delicious Sunday roast waiting for me.

Ever since, the wanderlust has remained deep within, unabated and undimmed by the passage of time and expectations that I would settle down and do something useful with my life, I have resisted it all. I stand before you, broken, penniless and full of ambition to see more of the world, to meet diverse and interesting people, to record their stories and my observations.

As a teacher and priest I live in Southampton in the south of the UK and have three grown up children. There are miles on the clock but there are still miles to go, so pump up the tyres, tap the petrol gauge, unleash the volatile power of the Mercury Marquis Brougham engine and let’s hit the road!