I know the day, year (1694) and the name of the ship, (the Recovery) that left Falmouth for America with my ancestor William Trevathan. My family has traced the family line back to 1450, all of them in Cornwall. On my mother's side were Welsh, Irish and Scottish.

Cornwall remains for me a uniquely indescribable place. I believe that we have something of a genetic memory of the landscape where one's ancestors spent generations. Now we are a rootless lot.

Many years ago, during a period of restless inner searching I jumped into a car and drove through the night to Cornwall. At that time I had some vague idea that the family roots were there but ostensibly this was not the reason I was going there now, I simply wanted to move and perhaps see some rugged coastline that I'd seen in photographs. I just drove and drove until I felt compelled to stop. This was on the outskirts of a small village called Mousehole, (this is significant because the outskirts do not hint at the beauty within). I stayed there for a few enchanted days and found myself. As a result I started investigating the family ancestry with my Arkansas cousin and found that the family came from .....Mousehole!

I am a member of Mebyon Kernow, the Cornish Independence party. Some years ago I took up Cornish lessons. The idea that this language was spoken by my forebears has real meaning for me.

I have had jobs ranging from oil rig roustabouts on the North Sea to farming goats on the flatlands of Friesland. Currently a Headteacher (Principal) of a school in London, I am also a member of a performing professional Theatre company and a father of a large number of children and live just outside London.

My other interests besides Cornwall are The History of Islamic Spain and Spain in general, Joan of Arc, Existential philosophy, squash, archery and Permaculture.