Richard Maitland was born on Tyneside and read Sociology at Durham University. He is married and worked as a teacher for 35 years before retiring. He now lives in the Scottish Borders and enjoys walking, cycling, and bowling. Since retiring he has concentrated on creative endeavours; writing songs and making music, and generally enjoying life. A great part of this enjoyment is writing poetry. Preferring rhymed poems to free verse, he addresses a wide range of topics both personal and universal. But always with wry humour and awareness of his own, and humanity's transience.