JOHN HEMMING-CLARK

Author. Scout Leader. Inventor. Occasional political candidate. Professional collector of life's absurdities.

I've written books, invented games, worked in banking, appeared in a film, stood for election rather too many times and spent years taking Scouts into the great outdoors. Somehow, I've survived to write about it.

​​A LITTLE ABOUT ME

I never intended to become an author. But as a descendant of John Heminges, Shakespeare's friend and one of the men responsible for publishing his First Folio, perhaps writing was in the blood.

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Fortunately for my readers, I've concentrated rather more on comedy than tragedy.

I'm based in Chislehurst, Kent, where I've lived since 1988, and have spent much of my life pursuing an assortment of interests that don't always sit comfortably together: banking, publishing, Scouting, politics, theatre, inventing games and, increasingly, creating fictional mischief.

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The result is a collection of books ranging from humorous Scout adventures to ski stories, games, activities, campfire skits and tales of a particularly troublesome young man called Horace Horrise.

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MEET HORACE HORRISE

Eleven years old. Mischievous. Resourceful. Frequently exasperating. Almost impossible not to like.

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Horace Horrise is my best-known fictional creation, an irrepressible youngster whose adventures combine British humour, family life, friendship and a remarkable ability to find trouble where none previously existed.

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Readers have been rather kind about him:

 

I love Horace. He's like Adrian Mole for grown-ups! — Facebook comment

 

He's as lovable as Richmal Crompton's William, and as witty and exasperating as Michael Bond's Paddington Bear. — Amazon review

 

John Hemming-Clark is the funniest author since Sue Townsend and The Diary of Adrian Mole! — Facebook review

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Horace's adventures include The Very Secret Diary of Horace Horrise, featuring 366 miniature stories and hundreds of illustrations; The Further Adventures of Horace Horrise; and Horace Horrise – Mischievous Scout: The Early Adventures, bringing together nine of his original escapades in one volume.

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My latest full-length Horace novel, Moonwalk, takes the mischievous Scout into an altogether bigger adventure.

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MOONWALK – FROM PAGE TO SCREEN?

Seventy-five teams. Twenty-five challenges. One extraordinary night. What could possibly go wrong?

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Quite a lot, as it happens.

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Horace Horrise – Mischievous Scout: Moonwalk, published in 2025, is a full-length comic adventure set during an overnight Scouting competition in the fictional Widepebble Woods.

 

There are rival teams, unexpected challenges, friendships, rivalries and a rather surprising ending.

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It's a story about growing up, discovering what you're capable of and finding out that the most memorable adventures rarely go according to plan.

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I'm now developing Moonwalk for the screen, with the ambition of bringing Horace, his friends and their gloriously chaotic adventures to a wider family audience.

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Scouting skills optional. A sense of humour essential.

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HOW SCOUTING STARTED IT ALL

I became a volunteer Scout Leader after discovering that helping young people have adventures could be every bit as entertaining as having adventures yourself.

 

It wasn't long before I realised that almost every Scout meeting produced something worth writing down. Children have a wonderful knack of saying things that no sensible adult would ever dream of saying.

 

In 2014, those observations became my first book, In You Go! A year or two in the life of a scout leader.

 

More books followed, including Sleeping Bags & Tortures, 1000 Fantastic Scout Games, 250 No Equipment Games and Seriously Good Fun Scout Activities.

 

I've also created We're Going on a Scout Camp!, a board game inspired by the joys, challenges and occasional absurdities of life under canvas.

 

I remain actively involved in Scouting, particularly with Explorer Scouts and District events.

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After all these years, I still haven't run out of material.

 

BEFORE THE BOOKS...

My life has taken a few unexpected turns.

 

I was born in Woking, grew up in Crockenhill, Kent, and went to school alongside some people who subsequently became rather better known than I did.

 

At Sevenoaks Preparatory School, one of my contemporaries was future England cricketer Paul Downton. At King's School, Rochester, I shared a classroom with Pete Tong, long before he became one of Britain's best-known DJs.

 

I still possess Pete's old copy of Deep Purple's Made in Japan, which he sold me to raise money for more dance records. I suspect he made the better career choice.

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I began my working life with Barclays Bank before moving into international banking in London. My final banking employer, the State Bank of South Australia, subsequently collapsed spectacularly. I should stress that I'd already left.

 

In 1988, I turned my attention to publishing financial information, including Bank League Tables. That business eventually developed into Searchline Publishing, which produces specialist business databases and publications.

 

I also run Independent Veterinary Practices UK, a service helping pet owners find independently owned veterinary practices.

 

It's been a varied career. I wouldn't necessarily recommend it as a conventional career plan.

 

POLITICS – A TRIUMPH OF OPTIMISM OVER EXPERIENCE

I've stood in council, London Assembly, parliamentary by-election and general elections. I've yet to win one.

 

Not many people can claim that particular distinction.

 

My first campaign was as an Independent candidate for Bromley Council in 2006, followed shortly afterwards by the Bromley and Chislehurst parliamentary by-election.

 

In 2008, I founded Independents to Save Queen Mary's Hospital, campaigning against the loss of important services at our local hospital in Sidcup.

 

That led to further appearances on ballot papers, including the London Assembly election and the 2010 General Election.

 

After a lengthy break, I returned to local politics in 2026 as a Reform UK candidate in Petts Wood and Knoll, where we finished second.

 

Some people collect stamps. Apparently, I collect election defeats.

 

My interest in politics has always been rooted in local issues, accountability and a belief that common sense ought to feature rather more prominently in public life.

 

MY BRIEF ENCOUNTER WITH SHOW BUSINESS

My acting career began at nursery school, playing Noah with a beard that refused to stay attached.

 

It hasn't improved much since.

 

In the early 1990s, I appeared in a low-budget film called The Pieman, playing the husband of Antonia de Sancha. The film subsequently became associated with the political scandal involving cabinet minister David Mellor.

 

My contribution to cinema was mercifully brief.

 

These days I'm more likely to be found volunteering behind the bar or front of house at Bromley Little Theatre, where the performances are considerably better.

 

THE BOOKS KEEP COMING

Alongside the Horace Horrise adventures, I've written books for Scout Leaders, young people, skiers and anyone who enjoys an entertaining story.

 

My publications include:

• In You Go! A year or two in the life of a scout leader

• Sleeping Bags & Tortures

• 1000 Fantastic Scout Games

• 250 No Equipment Games

• Seriously Good Fun Scout Activities

• The Very Secret Diary of Horace Horrise

• The Further Adventures of Horace Horrise

• Horace Horrise – Mischievous Scout: Moonwalk

• Horace Horrise – Mischievous Scout: The Early Adventures

• If Gondolas Could Talk: 101 Superlative Ski Stories

• Transformative Testimonies: The Wonder of God in the Modern World

 

There are plenty more. I appear to have difficulty stopping.

 

You can explore my books, games and other creations throughout this website.

 

A FEW THINGS YOU MIGHT NOT KNOW

• I've lived on the same corner of Chislehurst since 1988, although in three different houses.

• One of those houses was the childhood home of philosopher Alan Watts.

• I've received both the Scout Arrowhead Award for New Volunteer of the Year and the Chief Scout's Commendation for Good Service.

• I have two grown-up children and a wife who has had to put up with an extraordinary assortment of projects.

• I enjoy theatre, Scouting, writing and finding humour in situations where it probably wasn't intended.

• I have absolutely no intention of standing for election to become Prime Minister. Probably.

 

MEDIA ENQUIRIES, INTERVIEWS & REVIEWS

Looking for an author with a story to tell?

 

I'm happy to consider enquiries from journalists, broadcasters, podcasters, book reviewers, bloggers and anyone interested in my books, my experiences or the stories behind them.

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Possible subjects include humorous writing, creating Horace Horrise, life as a Scout Leader, developing Moonwalk for the screen, independent publishing, inventing games and some of my more unusual life experiences.

 

I'm based in Chislehurst, Kent, and can be contacted directly.

 

Email: john@searchlinepublishing.co.uk

Telephone: 020 8468 7945 / 07968 525692

Website: www.johnhemmingclark.com

 

And if all you want is a good story, you've come to the right place.