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Gordon D.S. Maddock...
was born in Plymouth in 1936 much to the disappointment of his mother, who wanted a girl – Pamela Jean.
His sense of belonging was further undermined when Hitler bombed his parents’ house in 1942, interrupting an otherwise
routine visit to the toilet by the young Gordon. He and other family members took refuge behind a sofa and then in a
shelter until the danger had passed.
He attended The Grammar School in Tiverton until 1950 when he won a part day boy scholarship to Blundell’s School. Here, he distinguished himself by annoying the masters on a regular basis and infuriating the Physics master,
E.W.C., by imprinting the said master’s initials on a school wall in snowballs. Having passed his ‘A’
levels, he further disappointed his parents by turning down a place at London University to read Architecture and instead
joined the Metropolitan Police.
Nevertheless, there were some redeeming moments in his life which have been recorded in his three publications:
Gordon has two daughters and a son and seven grandchildren, all of whom put up with him when he visits the U.K.
He currently lives in Spain with his second wife, Fiona, where he writes, paints, continues fund-raising activities and tries
not to get under her feet.
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Fiona Maddock...
was born Fiona Ross in 1950, the fourth of six daughters to long-suffering
Alan Ross, a schoolmaster (as they were known in those days).
She grew up in Surrey and was educated at St Maur’s
Convent for girls, where she liked Latin, English and Art, and reading the Oxford English Dictionary in the library at break
times, which earned her the nickname ‘The Swot’. Reading dictionary definitions was her idea of a good time
when everyone else was bunking off to buy sherbet lemons from the local sweetshop, which was strictly out of bounds.
She moved to St John Bosco Convent Grammar school in Chertsey leaving with
three respectable ‘A’ levels which she promptly wasted by becoming a “lighting roadie” for Glam Rock
bands in the 1970s.
In the 1980s she was part of The Curry Club, a spice marketing concept with a magazine and product range and trips to India, Nepal and Darjeeling.
As was customary in her family she did everything late and the hard way.
Consequently she completed an Open University Degree in 2000 and got married in the same year.
She moved to Spain in 1996 and has commenced a Diploma in Spanish but is currently
too busy to finish it.
Painting in oils and acrylics is now her main passion. She lives
in Spain with husband Gordon (who tries not to get under her feet).
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