Bill Kitson
I
was born and raised in Baildon, before my parents moved to
live at Menston, West Yorkshire. Most of my family were from
Bradford, with a few notorious exceptions. I was educated
at Ashville College Harrogate, where in my first year I won
the English prize; cementing my love of reading and
writing. My favourite book as a child was Treasure Island.
This was however, confiscated by my mother following the
disappearance of my elder sister’s jewellery box, later
found buried in the garden, six paces from the ‘blasted
oak’! (Actually an apple tree).
I
was brought up surrounded by books. Thrillers by John
Creasey, Edgar Wallace and Leslie Charteris formed unusual
reading for a ten year old.
But
then maybe it was inevitable that I should write about
crime; eleven of my ancestors were transported to Australia
as convicts. My other interests include sport. I began my
cricket career at Menston CC before moving to Harrogate
where I later took a leading part in the organisation of
Harrogate Cricket Festival. I also played hockey for
Bradford. My other sports were golf, badminton and table
tennis.
On
retiring from playing, I became an umpire for hockey and
later for cricket. The highlights of my sporting career
included taking ten wickets in an innings, umpiring at Lords
cricket ground and umpiring a county hockey match. I have
also umpired for MCC regional teams. Having retired from
officiating, I remain a committee member of Nidderdale and
District Amateur Cricket League, where I, along with my
wife, Val, continue to run Junior Indoor Cricket for over
four hundred youngsters every winter.
To
fill the time between fixtures in my busy sporting life, I
worked in banking as finance executive from bases in Leeds,
Stockton and Harrogate, covering clients in West and North
Yorkshire, Teesside and the North East before taking early
retirement.
My
day doesn’t really start until I’ve solved the Telegraph
cryptic crossword, (or done the best I can) and walked
Willow, the family Labrador, along the woodland lanes in the
heart of North Yorkshire. When I really need to chill-out I
head for southern Crete along with my wife, and my laptop;
in case I feel the urge to kill someone!
When
I landed a three book deal from leading independent
publisher, Robert Hale Ltd, three days before Christmas
2008, I described it as the best Christmas present I’d ever
received. Now, with several books in the series already
published, my ambitions remain the same as when I started.
I'm a storyteller. I want to write books that people will
enjoy so much they look out for the next one bearing my
name.
I
do have two unfulfilled dreams. One; to see Yorkshire win
cricket’s County Championship, and two; Bradford City to win
football’s Premier League. Impossible? Maybe, but they said
that about me being published!!
Bill
