Keith Swallow was born in Surrey and spent the first 33 years of his life there. A regular part of his childhood, however, involved visiting his grandparents’ bungalow at Greatstone-on-Sea. It was during these times that he developed a deep love for Romney March and the surrounding area.
In 1993, his office in London closed, and he jumped at the chance to relocate to the Hastings area. Moving to Guestling, between Hastings and Rye, provided the ideal opportunity to regularly revisit the Marsh. His first four books each relate to aspects of Romney Marsh that were of particular interest: Russell Thorndike’s mythical smuggling vicar, Doctor Syn; the pubs of the Marsh; the history of Dungeness; and the development of Greatstone and Littlestone.
Having retired from his less than satisfying career in internal auditing in 2017, he now has more time to research local history and public houses (all aspects, particularly the drinking side), and his writing continues to reflect these interests. Outside of these activities, he has a deep love of the sea and spends his spare time kayaking and fishing, has an involvement in local sport, and follows the fortunes of Portsmouth Football Club amongst a number of lost-cause sports teams.
He is married with two grown-up children.
