Career
Born Ernest James Perrin in Manchester, England, he now lives on the Welsh borders from where he contributes to the Guardian Country Diary as well as writing articles from his second home in Ariège. As a writer, he has made regular contributions to a number of newspapers and climbing magazines. As a climber, he has developed new routes, as well as making solo ascents of a number of established routes.
Foreign many years he has contributed mountaineering obituaries for The Guardian (for example, contributing on Brede Arkless).
He has six children by six different partners.