About

After leaving school at 16 years of age with two O levels (English Language and Maths, both Cs), I started as an apprentice bricklayer. After a couple of years, I realised that I wanted something else, so I left and after a few months as a lorry driver I did further O levels, then A levels and a degree in Psychology (with some philosophy and astronomy thrown in).

I later returned to HGV Class One lorry driving for a while, along with taxi driving, and then went on to a PhD (The Long Term Psychological Effects of War Experience). Afterwards I obtained a lectureship at Nottingham Trent University, before moving to The University of Nottingham in 2004.

I retired from full time work in 2024 due to ill-health. See my blog for details of living with terminal cancer.

My main area of research was traumatic stress, particularly war trauma. I have supervised nearly 40 PhD students to completion, along with some professional doctorate (clinical and forensic) students. I have also supervised 200-300 MSc student projects. The students come from all over the world and have made a huge positive difference to my life.

I have published several books, many journal articles, and some book chapters.

While I have a number of psychology qualifications one of my proudest achievements was to be elected as a Fellow of the Royal Historical Society. I have always been a secret historian. Perhaps my next career….