Robert was born in Aldridge, Staffordshire, the son of a Welsh father and an English mother. Brought up in the Lake District he now lives in Leicestershire on the edge of the Charnwood Forest. He was educated at Heversham School in Westmorland, now part of Cumbria, and Hatfield College, University of Durham before becoming a geography and sports master at Loughborough Grammar School. He has written several books on family history, children's adventure stories and "The Fugitives" is his second crime thriller novel. His many interests include sport (especially football, cricket and cycling), social history, the natural world, red wines, fast cars, rock music, travel, both at home and abroad, gardening, walking, meeting up with friends and all matters geographical.