Ken Pickles was born in 1939 at Riddlesden. He attended a local school
reluctantly, intermittently. He was a born naturalist and spent his time
in the countryside. During the war he lived for a time in Scotland.
He became a gamekeeper, a highland soldier and a piper. He joined the
police force in 1961. He has had two books on bees, one on poetry
and a number of short stories published; two poems selected by General
Lord Richard Dannatt and the Poet Laureate Carol Ann Duffy published in
a book called Heroes. He is married with one daughter and two
grandchildren. Ken continues to play the pipes, paint in oils and
write.
He is descended from Irish, Scottish and Yorkshire stock and says if he
was a terrier with that pedigree he might be a winner at Crufts Dog
Show!