William Thurl was born in Salford in 1946 and educated at Weston Primary and Hitchin Boys Grammar School in Hertfordshire. He obtained his Honours degree in German and French at King’s College, London, in 1969. He has taught at schools in Stockton-On-Tees and Hertford, the latter for over 20 years, and now works occasionally as a Supply Teacher. He enjoys teaching Chess and is a Bridge Grandmaster, playing regularly for his County Team. He lives in Letchworth with his beautiful cat Chocolat and also often enjoys going to pub-quizzes.