Toddy Hoare trained as a sculptor, served as a soldier, and spent time with the Missions to Seamen in the Europoort, Holland, before ordination and twenty-five years as a rural parish priest in North Yorkshire (known locally as Herriotshire, since the author lived in the same group of five parishes), illustrating Scripture with sculpture and, latterly, on retirement, with poetry, some based on peace studies in Oxford. He is now back home in North Yorkshire.