John Lawes was born in Romford, Essex, England three weeks before VE Day (Victory in Europe) was declared on May 8, 1945. He was taken to Hamilton, Ontario, Canada as a babe in arms in July that ye...view moreJohn Lawes was born in Romford, Essex, England three weeks before VE Day (Victory in Europe) was declared on May 8, 1945. He was taken to Hamilton, Ontario, Canada as a babe in arms in July that year. He grew up in Hamilton, earned a degree in English at York University, worked in Toronto, Montreal and Calgary in various administrative and managerial capacities. His hobbies include wood sculpture, stained glass, photography and music. He has travelled extensively, taking advantage of his linguistic skills in French, German and Spanish. He retired in 1995 and now lives with his wife, Louise, in Costa Rica.view less