Laurence was born in Swansea in 1943 and was educated at St. David's Primary School, Dynevor Grammar School, and Cardiff College of Food Technology. He studied Timpani and Percussion part-time at the
Royal
Welsh College of Music and Drama in Cardiff, playing for amateur
operatic and choral societies across South Wales.
Laurence opened a grocery business in the Uplands area of Swansea,
trading succesfully from 1968 - 1995. When the business closed he
became a peripatetic music teacher with the City and County of
Swansea Music Service. Following an accident at work in 2003,
he was unable to play or teach for several years but has recently
commenced playing again with Swansea Community Orchestra.
In May 2008, Laurence was invited to join the Corps of Concierges being
introduced by Glamorgan Cricket to look after the Hospitality guests at
the brand new Swalec Stadium in Sophia Gardens, Cardiff.
Laurence started work on ¨Through Hell to Freedom¨, the biography
of a Neath slave camp survivor and war hero Julian Bester,
in June 2006; the book being eventually published
by Tucann
of Lincolnshire in December 2007.
He cites his interests as mountains, cricket, nordic walking,
going to the gym.......and of course, music.
He is single and lives in Neath, South Wales, U.K.
This is his first book.
