Poet, performer, and children's author associated with the Liverpool Poets and famous for his place in the bestselling anthology The Mersey Sound. His poetry collections include Mr Noselighter, Unlucky for Some, and Everyday Eclipses.
He worked as a French teacher and later formed a poetry and music trio called The Scaffold.
He was an un-credited writer of comedic dialogue for the Beatles' 1968 animated film, Yellow Submarine.
He was born in the Liverpool suburb of Litherland. He was married to Thelma Monaghan from 1970 until 1980. In 1986, he married Hilary Clough. he has a son named Finn.
He appeared in a film about a Beatles parody group, the Rutles, whose members included guitarist Ollie Halsall.