Ted Simon

I was born in 1931 and have a familiarity with events long before that so my personal world extends over more than a century of astonishing change. Although I am best known as an author of non-fiction travel/adventure my academic educations was principally scientific, before I fell somewhat by accident into journalism. In the RAF I created a magazine for recruits, called "Scramble" which got me into Fleet Street and the Daily Express in 1956. I worked in the Street for ten years, becoming Features Editor of the Sketch, as well as co-founding and editing a magazine called "King" In 1967, feeling uncomfortable with newspapers as they were then I moved to a ruin in France, took up stone masonry and wine, and wrote a book about Formula One. I also worked occasionally as guest editor on the Observer magazine until I began my first motorcycle journey around the world in association with the Sunday Times. Seven years later, following the success of Jupiter's Travels, I moved to a farm in Northern California with a wife and a son, and helped to pioneer a new wave in Organic Agriculture. Since then I have built three houses and written five more books of various kinds. In 2001 to 2003 I rode around the world once more I am now back in France and still ride a motorcycle