Mike Stewart says about himself, “40 years a scientist, 22 years a TA soldier, but most importantly 43 years a ‘child of God’.” He adds, “I can’t just sit down and write; these thoughts are synthesised from moving encounters and experiences and just travel from my heart to my pen.” Many of his earlier poems were written as valedictory words to colleagues who were leaving, or eulogies for family and friends.

Retired now and living in St Andrews, his first poem was written after emerging from the labour suite in Maryfield hospital Dundee  where his first daughter, Lesli had just been born. His Christian journey began in 1981 and thereafter was the dominant influence in his life. Along with his wife, Moira, he travelled to South Africa for 13 years, with poems ‘appearing’ at irregular intervals, coloured by the experiences of a very different country.