Mike’s first serious attempt at journalism came in 1981 when he wrote a letter to the Sunderland Echo
complaining about the lack complimentary medicines available on the NHS. His wife Jackie then urged him
to write a book.
complaining about the lack complimentary medicines available on the NHS. His wife Jackie then urged him
to write a book.
Mike appears on the James
Whale Show on Radio Metro
to talk about the controversy
in the news of alternative
therapies.
Whale Show on Radio Metro
to talk about the controversy
in the news of alternative
therapies.
Mike appears on the Alan Beswick Show on Radio Metro to talk
about the controversy in the news of alternative therapies.
about the controversy in the news of alternative therapies.
During the next few months Mike continued to write small articles for
local newspapers, mainly The Shields Gazette and The Sunderland
Echo. He re-appeared on The James Whale Show a number of times
and
gained some recognition in the north east of England for his expertise
in the field of alternative therapies.
local newspapers, mainly The Shields Gazette and The Sunderland
Echo. He re-
gained some recognition in the north east of England for his expertise
in the field of alternative therapies.
Mike recalls; “Annie was one of the sweetest people in the business
and had a way of putting you at your ease. Nothing was ever too much
trouble for her.
“I remember the first time I appeared on Friday Night Live...Annie asked
Me if it was the first time I’d ever been on TV, and when I told her it was
She said, “I could tell you not to be nervous, but it won’t work. I’ve been
Doing this for ages, and I still get nervous even now”.
“She’ll be sadly missed”.
and had a way of putting you at your ease. Nothing was ever too much
trouble for her.
“I remember the first time I appeared on Friday Night Live...Annie asked
Me if it was the first time I’d ever been on TV, and when I told her it was
She said, “I could tell you not to be nervous, but it won’t work. I’ve been
Doing this for ages, and I still get nervous even now”.
“She’ll be sadly missed”.
In 1983 Richard H. Capstick, formerly the Shipping Correspondent
for the Shields Gazette, left the paper and started his own magazine
called Tynesider.
Mike seized the opportunity and called in at the magazine’s office
in King Street, South Shields, asking if they’d be prepared to look
at some articles on alternative therapies. Richard asked Mike to
return at 9am the following morning with three, 300-word samples.
He sat up till 2.30am the following morning, preparing the manuscripts
on an old Silver Reed Silverette II portable typewriter.
Mike was stunned when Richard asked him if he’d like to write a
weekly column. One column per week soon turned into two, and then
three. Sadly, Tynesider folded after a few short months.
for the Shields Gazette, left the paper and started his own magazine
called Tynesider.
Mike seized the opportunity and called in at the magazine’s office
in King Street, South Shields, asking if they’d be prepared to look
at some articles on alternative therapies. Richard asked Mike to
return at 9am the following morning with three, 300-
on an old Silver Reed Silverette II portable typewriter.
Mike was stunned when Richard asked him if he’d like to write a
weekly column. One column per week soon turned into two, and then
three. Sadly, Tynesider folded after a few short months.
In 1984 Mike was given his
first opportunity to write a
serious article for a respected
journal, The Contemporary
Review.
The feature concerned the
history of alternative therapies
in the British Isles, and was
well reviewed.
first opportunity to write a
serious article for a respected
journal, The Contemporary
Review.
The feature concerned the
history of alternative therapies
in the British Isles, and was
well reviewed.
Later in that same year,
Mike was commissioned by
The Herb Quarterly to write
an article about the herb
Borage.
Mike was commissioned by
The Herb Quarterly to write
an article about the herb
Borage.
At the end of 1984 Mike
began to diversify. As well
as writing about alternative
therapies he also began to
pen articles for spiritual
and theological journals
such as the Bible Study
Monthly.
began to diversify. As well
as writing about alternative
therapies he also began to
pen articles for spiritual
and theological journals
such as the Bible Study
Monthly.
At the end of 1984, Mike took up his wife’s suggestion to write
a book. He began work on Herbal Healing - A Concise
Introduction to Medicinal Herbs and submitted it for publication.
The first publisher rejected it, but the second, the Ashgrove Press,
accepted it immediately. It was published in 1985 and is still in
print today.
Mike later went on a publicity tour of the UK to promote the book,
taking part in radio and TV shows as well as engaging in numerous
newspaper interviews.
a book. He began work on Herbal Healing -
The first publisher rejected it, but the second, the Ashgrove Press,
accepted it immediately. It was published in 1985 and is still in
print today.
Mike later went on a publicity tour of the UK to promote the book,
taking part in radio and TV shows as well as engaging in numerous
newspaper interviews.
In 1987 Mike reviewed
a new biography of the 19th
century Zionist preacher
Charles Taze Russell
for the United Israel Bulletin.
a new biography of the 19th
century Zionist preacher
Charles Taze Russell
for the United Israel Bulletin.
In the same year the Pastoral Bible Institute
commissioned Mike to write an article which
appeared in their journal The Herald of Christ’s
Kingdom under the title Irretraceable Footsteps
commissioned Mike to write an article which
appeared in their journal The Herald of Christ’s
Kingdom under the title Irretraceable Footsteps
In 1989 Mike helped the
Northumbria Police Video
Unit script the film Violent
Crime - Let’s Draw the Line.
The movie was part of the
launch of a campaign to
reduce violent crime
throughout the region. The
official launch took place
at the historic St. Hilda’s
church in South Shields.
Northumbria Police Video
Unit script the film Violent
Crime -
launch of a campaign to
reduce violent crime
throughout the region. The
official launch took place
at the historic St. Hilda’s
church in South Shields.
St. Hilda’s Church
