John Conen was brought up in London and Worthing, and pursued a career in human resources management. He has a keen interest in London's history and particularly its ordeal in World War 2. However he has a wide range of interests, having published 'Bamberg and Franconia: Germany's Brewing Heartland' for which he was awarded the Budweiser Budvar John White Travel Bursary in the British Guild of Beer Writers' 2010 awards. He has also published 'Larkswood School 1906-2006', celebrating the centenary of his primary school. John is married and lives in Buckinghamshire.