In a previous life David worked for the Probation Service and later the Church of England. He also spent ten years in local politics as a Sheffield City Councillor.

After a severe mid-life crisis he trained as an actor at the Bristol Old Vic in 1991 and is now a professional actor with eighteen years experience in theatre, television, radio and voiceover. He is joint artistic director of Cotton Grass Theatre Company and a voice and presentation skills coach to Warwick Business School’s Masters in Public Administration course.

David has written two pieces for Cotton Grass Theatre: The Unreturning Army weaves stories about Derbyshire during the Great War with the poetry of Sassoon, Owen and others. Then in 2008 he wrote A Nest of Singing Birds about Cecil Sharp’s folksong collecting work and his visit to Winster in Derbyshire in 1908.

In 2009 he will collaborate with professional folksinger and concertina player extraordinary Keith Kendrick from Ashbourne on a new show, written by Caroline Small, entitled: The Unknown Land.

He also works with Sustainable Youlgrave, a voluntary organisation committed to local renewable energy from waste, wind and wood and to reducing the carbon footprint of the village where he lives. He has just completed a successful funding bid to launch a full feasibility study of the commercial possibilities for anaerobic digestion facilities in the valley.

Despite his advanced age he still plays cricket for Youlgrave Lodge CC. He is a lifelong supporter of Brighton and Hove Albion FC and can’t wait for the new ground to be built.