大象传媒

Philip wanted to tell about one of the biggest upsets in his life, in the hope that someone in a similar situation might learn from it.

He thinks that many people now have career changes forced upon them. We are all encouraged to be flexible - and for some this type of change works, but it's not quite so easy if what you are good at and happy doing is suddenly no longer required. So he hopes his story will help a few people to come to terms with similar experiences in their lives.

I'm aged 59, married with two teenage children, and we all live in Kidsgrove, Stoke on Trent. I work as a storyteller and local historian within the schools; libraries; museums; clinics and playgroups of the area. My main interest is reading - as wide a variety as I can - I get through about 100 books a year and make notes on all of them. Add music; walking and theatre and I'm thankfully I have a lifestyle which allows me to combine all these activities.

Inside Lives was friendly and flattering - to think that other people might be interested in what you have to say - but quite intensive too. The editing workshop was surprisingly absorbing and exhausting. You feel you've really worked hard and learned something useful.