I was born in 1947 and had a happy childhood in Wimbledon. I had a less happy time in a boarding school on a hilltop in Berkshire and then worked everything out by studying psychology and sociology at Surrey University.
In the 1970s I trained as a journalist in Tavistock. I moved to London and started working on national newspapers, specialising in education. In the 1980s I became a medical journalist.
In 1990 I set up as a trainer, specialising in writing and editing skills for health professionals. I moved on from training in 2007 and now spend my time living with my wife Barbara in Leatherhead, where I write books, cultivate my garden - and photograph the best bits.
My latest book (Two Summers: Nixon and Trump by Greyhound Bus) describes trips I took around American in 1969 and 2019. My previous book (Mostly We Had It Good: a Baby Boomer's Journey) describes the privileged life some of us were able to lead in the second half of the 20th century.
My four books on medical writing are: Winning the Publications Game, Write Effectively; A-Z of Medical Writing and Medical Journalism.
Journalism
Formal training on the IPC Newspaper Training Scheme, Devon;
Freelance journalist based in London, working as writer and sub-editor for Guardian, Times, Times Education Supplements, Observer, New Society;
Education correspondent, New Statesman;
Assistant Editor (Training), Nassau Tribune, Bahamas;
Executive Editor, World Medicine; Editor, BMA News Review;
Publisher and editor of Short Words.
Training
Founder and Principal Trainer at Tim Albert Training;
Visiting Fellow, Medical Writing, University of Southampton;
Editorial Training Adviser to the British Medical Association;
Fellow of the Chartered Institute of Personnel and Development.
Other
Committee member and deputy chairman, Medical Journalists Association;
Council member, Committee on Publication Ethics;
Judge, BUPA Communication Awards;
Expert by Experience, Care Quality Commission;
President d'Honneur, Wimereux Cricket Club, France.