A quick hello to begin with, and welcome to my home page. You can find you way around the site by clicking on the links at the left-hand side of this page.
Biography
A bit about me to start with! I was born in 1971 in Birkenhead, Merseyside. I went to university at Magdalen College, Oxford (1989-93), graduating with a BA (Hons.) in Chemistry, and received a doctorate from Edinburgh University in 1997. I've moved around the UK a lot, mainly chasing jobs. My wife Kath and I are now resident in the fair city of York. We spent 2004-2006 in Milton Keynes, the land of the concrete cows, but the pull of the North proved too much for us and we're both glad to be within easy reach of the towns of our birth once again.
Work life
My doctorate is in Bio-Organic Chemistry and I've become interested in the study of naturally occurring molecules with possible uses in medicine or complementary therapy. These include flavours and fragrances, sugars and natural glues. Many of the molecules I have studied have been derived from plants, as a result of which I have developed a side interest in the science behind herbal therapies.
I am currently studying the role which naturally occurring sugars on the surfaces of living cells might play in the development of certain cancers. This work is being carried out at the Institute of Cancer Therapeutics at the University of Bradford and is funded by the Association for International Cancer Research.
Creative writing
I've been doing creative writing since I first learnt to write. My output is eclectic, but mostly consists of poems and short stories, a number of which have been published or won prizes in national competitions. I have belonged to several writers' groups including the Jackdaw Writers of Durham, and the Speakeasy writers' group in Milton Keynes, for whom I have also judged writing competitions. I am currently a member of York Writers and an associate member of the National Association of Writers' Groups.
I run a monthly open mic night at the Speakers' Corner in the congenial surroundings of the Yorkshire Terrier pub in central York. With the added enticement of great real ale, the evenings provide an opportunity for poets, storytellers, comedians, occasional musicians and performers of all types to share their creative work. We have also welcomed an impressive array of special guest performers.
You can find samples of my work by following the links on the left.
Christianity and spirituality
I'm a Roman Catholic Christian and for some years have been involved with the Lay Community of St. Benedict, which believes that the wisdom of St. Benedict's Rule has a lot to offer for the disconnected, spiritually random world of today. I have also been involved in the ecumenical movement since my student days.
Thank you for visiting
Please check out the links on the left for more stuff. This site is still being built and I hope to add to it, bit by bit, as I go.
God bless and slainte mhath,
Andy Humphrey
Watch this space for links to my academic CV, creative writing, Christianity and spirituality, my favourite things, photo galleries, and more.
My creative writing homepage
My poetry page
My short stories page
News archive
Dr. Humphrey's Miscellanea (a compilation of random stuff that I happen to like)
My workplace - The Institute of Cancer Therapeutics, Bradford University
The Speakers' Corner, York
York Writers
Speakeasy - the Milton Keynes writers' group
The Lay Community of St. Benedict
The University and College Union
The Irene Goodnight Appreciation Society (link currently dead, sorry!)
Monochrome - my guilty secret as a spod!
16.3.09 - Andy wins Poem of the Month on www.writeoutloud.net!
Yes, it's true. Write Out Loud, Northern England's premier website of all things poetic and performance-related, have selected my poem "The Greatest Gig of All" as their Poem of the Month for March 2009. The poem was my tribute to the late great Mr. John Peel, and was selected by one of my performance poetry heroes, Attila the Stockbroker, a poet who owed much of his early fame to support from Peel.
To read what Attila and other poets have said about "The Greatest Gig of All", click here.
Publications news 19.1.09
I'm pleased to announce the publication of several new poems in some quite prestigious places. The Birkenhead April Fools (an earlier version of which used to appear on this website) was featured in issue 145 of Orbis, published in December 2008, and Ash Wednesday appeared in the 2008 Aesthetica annual. I've also had a poem selected for inclusion in the 2009 Ragged Raven anthology (for the third year in a row) and my third ever Second Prize in the Hastings International Poetry Competition (poem due to be published in First Time later this year).
Finally, of course, the anthology Making Changes, which contains my short story I Borrowed a Poltergeist, is now available from Bridge House Publishing, price £8.99. Making Changes is also available from Amazon.
ISBN: 978-0-9557910-5-5
Price £8.99
To contact me by email, please click here.
