Neil Matthews was born in London.  He was a winner in the 2008 Independent on Sunday / Bradt Travel Guides travel writing competition.  Neil has contributed travel articles to Best of British, Wanderlust, Mensa Magazine and other publications.  Journeys from Wimbledon Common is his first book.  He has also written the travel chapter for Educating mind, body and spirit: Quintin Hogg and the legacy of The Polytechnic, 1864–1992.  When neither travelling nor researching, he is a Chartered Marketer.