David C. J. Howell was born at Earlham Hall, Norwich, in 1946 in what is now The School of Law at the University of East Anglia, the only time he spent in an institute for higher enlightenment. He completed his education, entirely to his own satisfaction, at King Edward VI Grammar School, Stafford and joined the Staffordshire Constabulary in 1965. After retiring in 1995 he continued with the Force as a staff support member until 2011. Married to Catharine, they have two daughters, four grandchildren, a dog called Jake and reside in Leicester.
