A retired teacher, I now research and write on aspects of the cultural and social history of the circus.

My 1991 Fellowship explored circus training provision for young people in Hungary. This was at a time when I was heavily involved in developing educational and social circus for young people in Leeds.

I co-founded the Leeds Children's Circus and then began Circus Zanni, an award-winning youth circus. I was strongly involved in developing the European Youth Circus Network and I have regular contact with groups across Europe and around the world. I have often travelled to advise on youth circus work and have directed youth circus events in the UK, Europe and Brazil. I set up the pioneering National Association of Youth Circus in 1994, to promote circus for, with, and by, young people. This work has been further developed and continued by the CircusWorks organisation.

I completed a Masters degree in Educational Circus and then went on to gain a PhD by published works for my research and writing on the social history of the circus. To date I have six published books on aspects of this subject, in addition to four other published books.