Simon Gordon Wheeler
I was born in Bath, Somerset in 1950. I left King Edward’s School (alumni include Thomas De Quincey and Bill Bailey) after completing my “A” levels and spent a year working at the Bath Boating Company - running the boat hire side of the business and also helping with building rowing boats, punts, canoes, skiffs and racing fours. In 1969 I went to the Guildhall School of Music and Drama in London and trained to become a Drama teacher.
I spent the next 30 years or so teaching. I worked in England, Wales, the Irish Republic and southern California. Eventually I took early retirement from a post as Headteacher of a Pupil Referral Unit - a school for children with Emotional, Behavioural and Social difficulties who had been permanently excluded from mainstream schools. I now live in North East Scotland.
I have an M.A. in education, specialising in Behaviour Management and an Advanced Diploma in Counselling from the University of Cambridge. I was a contributor to two academic books, have had several articles published in The Times Educational Supplement and won a short story competition run by Radio Leicester. I have appeared several times on local radio and television, also on national television on “The Time, the Place”, a talk show hosted by John Stapleton. At one school I became known throughout the region for my work with visiting writers.
My ancestry can be traced back through England, Wales, Scotland and Ireland; one of my forefathers was Sir Francis Drake.
website: www.simongordonwheeler.co.uk