B

orn and raised in Keynsham, Bristol, B.A.Burford-Jones was but one member of a large family.  With six brothers and sisters to play with and very little money, he was forever learning the art of imagination as it was free, reusable and there was plenty to go around. This imagination he put to great use in both schoolwork and playtime.  As he grew up, these very same brothers and sisters produced nephews and nieces.  In fact he could hardly turn a corner without being confronted with another tiny new addition to the ever-expanding family.  The result was that he grew in adulthood with the strong belief that nobody should ever be talked down to or patronised - whatever their age.

 

When he realised that his childhood dream of becoming a fireman could quite probably cause him to get burnt, he decided to drop the fantasy and focus on more obtainable goals. Unfortunately being an astronaut was also not his cup of tea, and being a Time Lord was completely impossible.  During his adult life he has put his hand to many things, from very tedious clerical work to building and performing with puppets.  As a result, he appreciates the sacrifice that clerical workers give to enable artists to flourish.  He also realises the pain and suffering that the poor puppeteer has to undergo, with his hand up an animal’s bottom. He has written several novels, including ‘Hoppers’, a children’s book which has also been published on the internet.  To read 'Hoppers', or view the puppets of B.A.Burford-Jones together with a history of puppetry on British television, follow the 'links' button.