Avril is a writer and artist. She has authored many books, short stories and magazines columns and articles, and has also been a teacher and youth worker. For eight years she worked as part of the Somerset Traveller Education team, supporting Gypsy children, their families and schools “learning far more from them than they ever learned from me!”. Her book Dreams of the Road, 2007 co-written with Dr Martin Levinson of Exeter University goes some way in preserving the rich culture of the gypsy and traveller communities in the South West, collecting together memories, anecdotes, the fears and the hopes of older Gypsies living in the region. Avril followed up this book by becoming a researcher at Bournemouth University on the Grey and Pleasant Land? project. The research culminated in an academic book, Countryside Connections, 2014.
Avril was a founding member and co-writer of Cock Crow Stone, a community theatre group – creating works based on local legends. her short story A Window on Her Life, into a full length novel called Fire and Ice. One of a number of publications. www.bloodforthebaron.com
After retiring from teaching Avril turned her hobby of making stained glass into a business – Avrilsrainbowglass.com
