Keith Chatfield

Keith Chatfield lives in the Chilterns and began his writing career with Thames TV in 1969. He wrote and narrated 39 episodes of Hatty Town, where the animated 'hatty' people live in magnificent 'hatty' houses, the most luxurious being a palace in the form of a crown inhabited by King Ethelbert. Sancho and his great friend Carrots lead the reader through the Hatty Town adventures.

In the 1970s Keith created his most famous character Issi Noho, the panda with his magic squares and hit-or-miss magic. Having written and narrated over 50 episodes of Issi's adventures for Thames TV Keith began to write for older children; Tregarrick Adventure, a well-paced, punchy read for 9s to lower teens, followed by Bird Mountain, a breathtaking fantasy story which has enthralled countless 8 to 12 year-olds.

For many years Keith combined his writing career with teaching. He has held writers' workshops for adults and visited over 600 schools offering assembly presentations followed by writers' workshops. Born in Surrey in 1934 he continues to take a keen interest in children's writing from his home in Buckinghamshire.