Born on the Scottish border, Edwin Hopper was brought up in West Africa before spending his teenage years in Bristol.
In East Africa in his twenties and thirties he was a prospector, surveyor, accountant, hotelier, cotton ginner, and tobacco man. He married Dineen in 1978, and in 1979 became a father (his eldest son is also called Edwin).
In 1981 his family settled back in England and in 1982 had another son (Leslie).
Work as a shop owner, labourer, salesman, and garage mechanic followed before a period as a civil servant. He lives in the heart of the Wiltshire countryside.