stephen west Biography

I am an E. Yorks lad,62,6ft tall, glasses and a paunch. Left school at 14 worked in shops and factories, sewers, and swept roads, was a motor cycle test rider, a semi pro footballer and horse breaker. Tried to train as a mental nurse but was too honest for the brutal 60’s system. Went to night school. Eventually trained as a teacher and was head of a Special Needs School from 1982 to 1993. Was also a film critic, food and drink and travel writer. Performed comic monologues, G and S, musical drama, pantomime, and fronted a seven piece blues band for six years. Doctorate in Behavioural Anthropology, Degree in English and a B. Ed. I am also a Captain (rtd) from a defunct African army the naming of which might cause the removal of my forearms by machete.
With my wife Patricia I live in The Gambia, West Africa, with three old dogs, two young cats and a thriving international restaurant. Had a massive stroke four years ago, Whole body, and voice went but the brain didn’t. Friends shipped me out as a cabbage in a wheelchair. After two weeks I told the therapists to depart in an Anglo-Saxon manner, stood up, got dressed and flew back. I retrieved 75% of what I was. Walk, talk, drive and work but not as steady on my feet and my memory lets me down occasionally.
I was looking for something exciting to do and then I found Poemhunter…….
(Hope) I’ve found somewhere to share memories. I write verse (and worse, one of my favourite books) . If it doesn’t cobble together in five minutes I throw it away.