Anthony Gibson was born at Totnes in 1949, the elder son of the broadcaster and cricket writer Alan Gibson. He read History at The Queen's College, Oxford, and spent most of his working life championing West Country farming and food with the National Farmers' Union. He was awarded the OBE for services to the rural community.He now spends his summers commentating on Somerset cricket for the BBC and his winters writing. Among his books are 'Of Didcot and the Demon', the MCC/Cricket Society Book of the Year in 2010, and two volumes - 'With Magic in my Eyes' and 'The Coloured Counties' - which explore the relationship between landscape and literature. He has been a member of Burnham and Berrow Golf Club for many years, his proficiency at the game never quite matching his enthusiasm for it!