Keith Wood
Headshot by Ethan Rastall
Keith was born in Halifax, Yorkshire on Midsummer’s Day 1947 and at 10 months old moved to North Yorkshire with his parents. He left home at 17 and lived in a pub in West Yorkshire for just over a year. He married when he was 19 and pursued low paid manual work but gradually progressed from an academic failure by failing his 11+ to obtaining a master’s degree at 50 which led him to gain chartered status as an environmental manager.
Following success working for a number of local authorities in a wide range of jobs, he ended up as Head of Community Development, before being made redundant at 60.
His wide range of experiences in his first 76 years put him in a good position to rise again from the ashes as the Yorkshire Fenix, the man of mystery who seeks to bring back to life the long-forgotten stories of poor individuals who are rarely written about.
‘One Day in May’ is his debut story, written in 2024. He has plans to publish a sequel in 2025 entitled ‘The Day of the Spider’. A third story of the 18th century, ‘Six Days in December’ about the double spies who worked for both King George and the Jacobite Prince we know as the Bonnie Prince is also scheduled for 2025.
Robert didn’t stand much chance after a difficult birth, being illegitimate and with an affliction which we know today as cerebral palsy. In the 18th century, sufferers would be known as the village idiots.
We now know that some sufferers, whilst they have limitations also can have areas in which they excel. Roberts seems to have had a remarkable talent at playing a musical instrument. He was also resourceful enough to survive, and for a poor person in those times, thrive.
Life expectancy was about 40 years in the 18th Century and Rob had lived to 52 and was still fit. But he lost his temper after being constantly mocked. This landed him in deep trouble and branded him a murderer, for which he had to pay the ultimate price.
In his 52 years he saw a lot and did a lot. He met many interesting characters in the Northern Borderlands.
You too can meet his acquaintances and experience the life of a travelling minstrel in the 18th century.
A sequel will be out later in 2025.