Born and brought up in Sheffield, Jim always had a love of the countryside. He initially saw instructing in outdoor pursuits as a career prospect, but was soon persuaded that his interpersonal skills and personality were best suited to teaching. Graduating in 1990 from Durham University, he entered the teaching profession - and affter an initial couple of years teaching in West Yorkshire, he moved to Germany to teach in the British forces schools. After over 32 years' teaching, there he was: deputy headteacher in one of the secondary schools. Jim has always had a keen interest in military history - beginning with an appetite for wargaming as a teen. This started his interest in the First and Second World Wars - leading to him visiting the battlefields at every opportunity. This passion eventually led to him buying a house in France in 2007 - giving him a base in the heart of the areas of the Western Front he was studying, as well as the opportunity to ‘walk the ground’ of those battles on a daily basis. With the closure of military schools in Germany in 2014, Jim had the opportunity to retire, move to his house permanently and ‘live the dream’ - an opportunity that could not be passed by. Working as a battlefield guide on the Western Front has allowed Jim to share his enthusiasm with others - something he loves doing and making it the best job he’s ever had. He has an appetite for primary research and the fluency to be able to do it in both English and German - resulting in a deep knowledge and understanding of the First World War from both sides of the wire. It was only natural that Jim’s first book should have, as its subject, the very battlefield within which he lives - allowing him to share his intimate knowledge of the ground he regularly walks and gaining a deep insight into the fighting that went on there. Unlike most other people with a passion for the Great War, Tim has Disneyland Paris to thank for the start of his journey. It was during a trip to Disneyland Paris over 20 years ago that Tim passed through Ypres and witnessed the Last Post Ceremony, an event that would change his life forever. From that point, he spent any spare time that he had, visiting the WW1 battlefields of France and Flanders, walking the ground he had read about and gaining a full understanding of the events that will be etched in the history books of the commonwealth forever. His thirst for knowledge of WW1 also introduced him to medal collecting, avidly researching and understanding the men behind the medals, the part that they played and the respective actions that they fought in. Tim has strong family links to the Great War, his Grand Father, a member of the 2nd battalion Devonshire regiment was taken prisoner of war, captured during the 2nd Devons historic battle at the Bois Des Buttes on the 27th of May 1918, his great uncle was KIA on the 4th of June 1918 whilst serving with the 8th Battalion Gloucestershire regiment. After many years of visiting the battlefields came the realisation that "you only live once" Tim and his wife decided to purchase a property in the heart of the Somme battlefields, give up the corporate treadmill and start living the dream. Tim, a glass half full person with a zest for life, has been carrying out research and guiding groups large and small around the battlefields of France & Flanders for many years, sharing his passion and knowledge with anyone who wants to listen. He also had in his own words “ the privilege of being the founding chairman of the Somme branch of the Western Front Association”.