Bernard W. Roberts

Bernard was born in Gorton, a working-class district of Manchester. His father - Bernard J Roberts - was a galvaniser of wire in the week and a painter and decorator at weekends, but also an artist who exhibited widely in the north of England. In 1952, at age 15 and without any notable qualifications, Bernard jnr left commercial school (Loreburn College, Spring Gardens, Manchester) and moved in with a city-firm of solicitors in nearby Kennedy Street. To boost his thirty shillings weekly wage, he was paid half-a-crown for the risky work of serving summons at weekends. Bus fares at the boy’s own expense. Apart from the routine and mundane tasks of a junior clerk, he was obliged to attend court and enter a simple group plea on behalf of Cycle & General. C & G offered loans for the purchase of bicycles. But on two occasions he spent the whole morning sitting in the wrong court (the courts were on the same street). Once was a reprimand, twice led to the door. While waiting to join the Royal Navy, Bernard spent a year at British Rail as a wage clerk, specialising in calculating the wages of high-earning train drivers (average overtime about 20 hours). Sitting on high stools at a tall, two-sided sloping desk (two clerks to each side), calculations (£ s d) were processed in the clerks’ heads (no calculators in those days!). Some of this experience is captured in his novel Borealanus - despite its euphemistic title, once required reading in many Manchester senior schools.

Later, he served for four years in the Royal Navy in the supply and secretariat branch and as a diver. After the Navy, for three years, he studied acting for the stage at colleges in Manchester and Blackpool (gold medal, London Academy). And, from the year of its inception, he read for 12 years at the Open University, gaining several diplomas and three honours degrees in subjects varying from literature and the classics to political science and law. After working as a senior executive in the travel industry for 17 years (Laker Airways' 1982 liquidation), Bernard created two incorporated companies (printing & mail order - liquidated 2004) and a third company that continued to trade until 2019 when he was 82. This allows Bernard to focus on his first love: creative writing. Since 1966, he has published widely. Additionally, he has written and produced 22 promotional films for the airline industry and the National Tourist Boards of Madeira, Barbados, Greece, Portugal, Tenerife, Morocco, Canada et al. New title out for 2023: 'Greasepainted by the Gestapo'.

Further information: ninagiotti@btinternet.com