Alan Christopher Roderick

Born Newport, Gwent. Educated St Mary’s Primary School, Duffryn High School. Studied French and German, Bradford University, 1965 to 1969, graduating with a Joint Honours Degree in Modern Languages.

Worked at BBC Monitoring Service in Reading. Taught English in the 1970s in Remscheid (where I met librarian Božena Roš) and Ansbach, West Germany.

In 1975, completed Teaching English as a Second Language Certificate at the University College of North Wales, Bangor. Married Božena Roš in Bangor, June 14th, 1975.

Taught German, Bryn Hafren School for Girls in Barry and French and German at Caldicot Comprehensive School.

1980 won the Local History Competition organised by the Gwent Local History Society and the South Wales Argus with my History of the Welsh Language in Gwent.

Articles published in numerous publications. Written/edited fourteen non-fiction books.

Fiction: Astrid Investigates, Astrid and the Golden Lovespoons, Astrid and the Girl in the Tangerine Dress.

Finalist in the John Tripp Spoken Poetry Competition, 2004 and 2011. Read poetry in Newport, Bargoed, Bristol, Merthyr Tydfil, Neath, Penarth, Cardiff, Swansea.

Since November, 2013, organised monthly poetry nights at Newport’s Murenger House. Chairman of The Cwtsh Arts Centre in Stow Hill, Newport.

2020, published: Selected Poems, 1978-2015; Twelve Days In Intensive Care, October 21st to November 1st, 2010, A Poetic Record; After You’d Gone, Poems 2016 - 2020. Edited Božena’s Book, a collection of my wife’s writings and artwork.