in 1973, he met his future wife sarah at a time when he had been working happily for quite a long period at the play library at the bbc. upon marriage they moved to the west country eventually settling in a cottage in wiltshire. there were two children of the marriage, a son, matt, born in bristol 1974 and a daughter, jane born in bath, somerset 1977. also during that period he took a degree in philosophy at bristol university.