Keeper Hill and Beyond

Some of my poems in this book are ones which I have written previously, and reflect situations and true events which have happened to me in my life. Some poems I have written recently. There are some special poems which were written to me by my Valentine man. I write down any small verses which come into my mind and I am sure that I am guided by my Angel guardian. I was born in Newport, a small town in Co Tipperary. My mother was a member of the Ryan family and she and her family came from Newport and the surrounding area. My Father was English. My Mum and Dad married in the Catholic church Newport in 1944. I was only one year old when my parents and siblings moved to a small town called Cloughjordan which is situated in North Tipperary. Whilst living in Cloughjordan I started school at the age of five and attended Cloughjordan National School. I enjoyed my younger school days there and was sad to leave. Cloughjordan is now known and has the only Eco village in Ireland. In the early 60's my father decided to return to live in Hackney London as there was no work to be had in Ireland. At the age of eleven I attended Cardinal Pole, a Catholic secondary school in Hackney. I did not like the school and throughout the first few years I played truant with a friend. The english teacher was not kind to me and called me a stupid Irish Ass as I could not grasp the nouns, adjectives, verbs etc. I left school at the age of fourteen years without any qualifications or exams.