John Burton has been an English teacher for thirty years, with a lifelong interest in local history and photography – a happy combination for a compiler of books like these. He has published five books and contributed to several others, he is currently chairman of the George Eliot Fellowship and a frequent speaker on local history and George Eliot. He is a founder member of The Bedworth Society, which now also runs Bedworth Heritage Centre. He also helps to run the Chilvers Coton.