Philip Appleton is a former airline pilot forced to stop flying in 1981 after a breakdown.

Born in 1954 of English and French parents, Philip gained a scholarship to the Haberdashers’ Aske’s School, Elstree and was sponsored by British Airways for airline pilot training in 1973.

He began writing after he left hospital and was transferred to a ground job handling private jets for the rich and famous.

In 1988, Philip completed a Post Graduate Diploma in Management Studies at Thames Valley University, leaving the aviation industry in 1992.

After working as an encyclopaedia salesman, a legal interpreter, and a Customer Service Manager, he became an actor in 1997, under the name ‘Philip Delancy’.

As a communication skills coach, he was sent to Rome in 2014 to deliver a workshop to international psychiatrists under the banner: ‘Maximising Patient Outcomes Long Term’.

He is Treasurer of The Windsor Writer’s Group.

28 November 2018

Editorial assessment by Jennifer Barclay (Reedsy):

“I really enjoyed working on this and think it has plenty of potential.”

“You’ve made me like you as a character and want to know what happens.”

25 March 2019

Second edit completed by Sinéad Fitzgibbon

14 October 2019

First printing. Something for my parents to read at 90 and 91.

AUTHOR: BLUE SKY, RED CARPET