Gordon Emery is a Cumbrian by birth, born in Ulverston. He has been writing and publishing books for 48 years but mostly since 1979. His 'Curious' books include 'Curious Clwyd' and 'Curious Chester.' Normally, he finishes a book in a year but, as a retirement project, he gave himself ten years to complete his book on Cumbria. Alongside writing he has worked on public footpaths, initially leading a team working for the national park, but later as a contractor for a Welsh county.

About the Speaker

Since living in Ambleside he has been mending drystone walls in the parish, trying to keep up with the car drivers unused to narrow bendy roads, who knock them down. In 2021 he rebuilt the walls alongside Grasmere only to have three cars hit them the following winter. Occasionally he takes on paid jobs such as restoring the walls and the barn top at Lancrigg Hotel, now accommodation and a wedding venue. In 2022 he built a Japanese Garden near Waterhead.