Stephen Hernandez

Stephen Hernandez, was born Stephen John William Kirby Greatorex (author's note: bit of a mouthful, I know). 04/05/1960, in Bromley, Kent, United Kingdom; the only characteristics (i.e., location), he shares with H.G. Wells, and David Bowie (David Robert Jones), who for a brief spell was his babysitter, but always finds it worth mentioning anyway as a totally unnecessary point of interest, (author's note: name dropping DB is like flying back from Hiroshima).

Son of a Royal Marine Commando (lance corporal 42nd), and Beauty Queen mother.

His godfather incidentally was Henri Charrière (a.k.a. Papillon) hence a shared lax attitude to authority, a love of nightlife, slightly loose women, large blue butterflies and a passion for literature. (Author's note: he asked me what I was currently reading when we first met and as I was eleven and three quarters at the time it happened to be Catch 22, which I was just finishing. He insisted on referring to me as 'Stic' as his English was not very good and my French was non-existent. Still, he often boosted my pocket money on the way back from school, which meant I was always well stocked with books).

He has lived and worked in South America for a large part of his life. At one time, he ran a nightclub named 'Casablanca', (Author's note: my favourite film) in one of the most dangerous port cities of Venezuela.

After surviving terminal (3 months), liver cancer (10 months of intense chemotherapy), he concluded that surviving a terminal illness was far less dangerous than running a nightclub (unarmed, apart from an innate sense of humour and some kind friends), in Cumana, Venezuela.

On completion of his 11+ he won a scholarship to Sir Roger Manwood's Boys School, Sandwich, but was unable to attend as he was taken by his step-father to Venezuela where he was enrolled in a state comprehensive. He later studied at a Jesuit School 'La Salle' aided by a donation from a wealthy philanthropist. (Authors note: if this sounds Dickensian, it was not deliberately intended)

He studied and read at:

Sir Roger Manwood's School for Boys, Sandwich, Kent (scholastic prize for Kent 1971) 11+ (failed to attend).

Christ Church, Ramsgate, La Salle, Pto. Cabello, Dane Court Technical High School, Broadstairs, ('O' Level), Broadstairs Technical College ('A' Level) - (not completed). New College Swindon, North Star Campus, (City & Guilds), Westminster College, Swindon / New College, Oxford, (AEC, not completed), and Christ Church Canterbury (HND).

He holds a First in Spanish and an Honours Degree in International Communication. These were independently gained through ELIC. (Examination in Languages for International Communication), and private study, in conjunction with the Institute of Linguists. (AIL) (MIL). Other qualifications are not listed as they are not relevant to literature, linguistics, and the game of chess, apart from an ECDL, a City & Guilds, BCS (ECDL part 2), and an HND).

Certificate in Business Spanish of the Spanish Chamber of Commerce in Great Britain. (1996).

Linguistics and computing: Software Localisation Engineer with a working knowledge of Deja Vu, Catalyst and a Trados certified user.

DSP clients: Audi and Volkswagen. Other: Sony, Bayer and Mitsubishi.

Telephone interpreting for EITI.

On site interpreter for UK government's Home Office - Immigration and Nationality Directorate.

Conference Interpreter of Spanish -Third Age IT challenge Conference (1995)

Operations Manager / Night Manager for CORPOTURISMO Venezuela (1982 - 1985)

Translations for Spanish and English Police Forces, IT departments and HM's coroners Office.

Writer in Residence: Open Eye, Theatre company, Swindon Wiltshire.(Presidents at time of residence, Emma Thompson and Kenneth Branagh).

Localisation Project Manager: International Air Charter, Manston International Airport Ramsgate Kent.

Projects include: All Spanish material for the White Cliffs Experience and New Roman Encounters at Dover museum (as seen on TV.).

He works as a translator and interpreter of Spanish with a specialisation in medicine.

When he is not working he likes to write, or play exceptionally long drawn out games of chess with his computer (authors note: we get on well as neither is particularly bothered who wins and we do try not to copy each other's moves).