David Hurdle

David lives in Sheringham, Norfolk but was born in Dumfries. For his first three months he lived in Thornhill's Buccleuch and Queensberry Hotel, which his grandparents and mother ran. Then he moved to London. He has fond memories of many childhood holidays in Thornhill, learning to cycle on his grandmother's lawn and exploring the area with his dad on hired bikes. They would often cycle past Kirkpatrick's smithy at Keir Mill. Decades later David discovered when tracing his family tree that Kirkpatrick was his uncle's great grandfather's brother-in-law. David writes a regular public transport column in a monthly magazine in his home town of Sheringham, Norfolk; has written 'Little Bus Stories' for 5 - 7 year olds; and has co-edited 'Road Passenger Transport Management, Planning and Coordinating Passenger Transport Operations' which is all about the bus industry and how local authorities can assist bus operation.He enjoys cycling still at 76, visits the Thornhill area regularly and hires a bike from Rik's Bike Shed at Drumlanrig Castle. He would recommend Dumfriesshire as a delightful, very cycle-friendly part of Scotland. He hopes readers find this account of Kirkpatrick and his way of life interesting and useful.