I am a semi-retired dairy and sheep farmer, one time hotelier, former concert pianist, presently working part-time in partnership with my wife, in our jewellery shop, J. Sidebotham & Son, Buxton. I am twice-married, once-widowed, father of two children, stepfather to four more children, and have six grandchildren.

Throughout my life I have been, and am still on, more committees than is good for anyone’s sanity, and have a circle of friends that are far too good for me.

I love poetry, music, the countryside, history, sculpture, books, opera, wine, travel, drama, pedigree Holstein cattle, antiques, wildlife, Buxton, … and my family.  - but not necessarily in that order!

I have a long association with Derbyshire being born in Buxton, attended Earl Sterndale Primary School, and thence on to Buxton College Grammar School.  After leaving school, I farmed at Glutton Grange, Glutton, in the upper reaches of the Dove Valley, with my family, for the next 40 years.  On my father’s side we have farmed in Earl Sterndale, Derbyshire, for seven generations.  The ‘distaff’ side of the family, the De Kyndre, lived in and around Kinder in The High Peak unbroken since 1385. One of my forebears, Philip Kinder, records this in his whimsical “Booke of Darbieshire” written in the early 1600’s. Though never fully completed, this tome is arguably one of the first histories of the county - (Vol.788, in the Bodleian, ‘Duke Humphrey’s Library’.) - Anyway, after just over six hundred years we’re probably not moving now!

From the age of six years, I learnt to play the piano, and eventually completed all exams, including Grade 8 and Higher Local both in solo and duet playing, with honours. (Associated Board and Trinity College.) I then went on to study with Fanny Waterman, in Leeds, giving professional recitals with my sister as concert piano duettists, - whilst still farming !  I competed in most of the major Drama and Musical Festivals in the North West and Midlands. We were runners-up in the 1969 International Royal Overseas League Music Competition, performed at the 1969 Harrogate Festival of Arts and Sciences, broadcasted for the B.B.C. from Milton Hall Studios, Manchester, and gave many concerts for Charitable Organisations also. I formed and ran my own Choir, and was often a guest conductor with local Brass groups.

For 14 years, from 1981, with my first wife and two children  I owned and ran a small Country Hotel known as “Swainsley Hall” in the Manifold Valley, again, whilst still a busy farmer! During this time I organised and performed in many concerts at the hotel. Sadly, my first wife died and, with my two children,  I moved back to the family farm. I eventually re-married in 1995 and came to live in Buxton. Newly retired since 2003 I have finally hung up my wellies and started to write!    

I first put ‘pen to paper’ after a holiday to Rome in April, 2003, being inspired by the wonderful Bernini sculptures in The Villa Borgese.  

I gave two recitals of my poems, punctuated with piano music, at the Buxton Festival Fringe in July ’04, gaining nomination and runner-up in the Spoken Word Category. This coincided with the publication of my first anthology, “Selected Poems”.

I have also read my poetry several times on “Radio Derby”, “High Peak Radio” and "Radio Sheffield" and been guest-published in numerous local newspapers and periodicals.

One of my latest poems, “The Coot”, was a winner in the Derbyshire Poetry Anthology Competition organised by ‘Templar Poetry’ and was published in ‘The Arnemetiae’, - Derbyshire Community Poetry Anthology in September ’05.

A particular high point for me was entering The London Art Co. U.K. “The Art of Love” Poetry Competition, 2005.  Over 500 poets, national and international, submitted some 1,500 poems.  A panel of judges, including Andrew Motion, short listed just 100 poems for the Exhibition in “The Oxo Tower” and “Bargehouse” on the prestigious South Bank.  I was delighted to have two poems short listed, namely “The Girl with Auburn Hair.” and  “Once.”

I have given recitals at The Buxton Festival Fringe in 2004, 2005, 2006 and 2007.

Also, I gave three recitals at The Edinburgh Festival Fringe, August ’05, in St. Mark’s Unitarian Church, Castle Terrace.

I was joint winner of the Huddersfield Literary Festival Open Poetry Competition in March 2007 with "The Gather" (see samples page: Poetry Times Three).

'Four', a set of 4 Haiku poems, was chosen for publication by the Norwich Writers Circle Open Poetry Competition 2007.

Graduated from Derby University, English and Creative Writing Degree Course. 2:1BA (honours)

My latest work, Words of the White Peak - The disappearing dialect of a Derbyshire village, has been published by Anecdote Publishing.