Map Addict has been a long time in the making. Thanks to my family for the initial indulgence and inspiration, especially my late grandparents, Dick and Nancy Theakston, and my mum, Jane Parker; also my dad and stepmum, David and Anne, fellow Parker Up Club members Sue and Andy, plus Helen, Julia, Alison and Grant.
So many people have shared with me their enthusiasm for maps and the places they portray: a by-no-means exhaustive list includes Chris Fleet and Laragh Quinney at the National Library of Scotland in Edinburgh, Dr Yolande Hodson, Richard Oliver, Ashley Sims, Fran Loots, Nancy and Nima Chandler, Bryn Jones, Paula Good, the staff of Ordnance Survey, Terry Jones, Alan Ereira, Ali Kedge, Dr Hilary L. Turner, Sam Taylor, Gary Delaney, Jim Coe, Jenny McLellan at the Milton Keynes City Discovery Centre, David Archer, Jan Morris, Paul Woodland, Lou Hart, Linda Brown, Julieann Heskin, Caz Ward, John Hefin, Bruce at the Rutland Museum in Oakham, Russell Grant, Helen Williams-Ellis, Dafydd Prys, François Turlure, Rev. John Davies, Tim Dunn, Jim Perrin, Rodney Leary, David Bannister, Pete Telfer, Swsi Kemp, Helen Sandler, Jane Hoy, Noel Dunne, Nick Fenwick, Ifor ap Glyn, Damian Walford Davies, Emyr Jenkins, Paul Whitfield, Tristan Hughes, Susan Blakiston at Anelog, and members of both the Glantwymyn Women’s Institute and the Cernunnos Pagan Bikers’ Group! Many thanks to my agent, Rebecca Winfield, who knuckledusted me and the script into submission, to editor Denise Bates and all of those at Collins, especially their cartographic crew in Glasgow—Mick Ashworth, David Jamieson, Jethro Lennox, David Mumford and Roger Pountain.
Huge appreciation to Yr Academi Gymreig, the Welsh Academy, for their bursary award that helped buy some time to travel and write this book.
Sôn arbennig i Preds: diolch, cariad, am bopeth.
Mike Parker’s career path has been a scenic B-road rather than a speedy motorway: spells as a stand-up comedian, tour guide, TV travelogue presenter, columnist and guide book author have all depended on his lifelong love of maps and acute sense of place. Much as he enjoys travelling abroad, Mike passionately believes that British maps are the best in the world, and that the landscape they portray is right up there too.
mapaddict@btinternet.com