About David

Born in Yorkshire in 1985, David Greaves’ kindness and generosity of spirit, and his love of travel and adventure led David to make friends around the world with people from all walks of life.

The stamina and strength of character demonstrated by David’s achievements as an ultra-marathon runner and Iron Man triathlete were also shown by his determination to complete a series of whimsical children’s stories in verse, while living with the cruel limitations imposed by Motor Neurone Disease (ALS), diagnosed shortly after David’s thirtieth birthday in June 2015.

In September 2015 David married the love of his life, Philippa. They climbed Mt Kilimanjaro together, raising over £12,000 for the Motor Neurone Disease Association, then travelled widely in East Africa before settling in Newcastle upon Tyne. As MND progressively deprived him of the use of his hands, and then the power of speech, David finished his wonderful collection of stories for children using revolutionary computer software that allowed him to communicate by tracking and translating into readable text the movement of his eyes. David passed away peacefully at home in September 2016.

With the publication of The Armadillo Pillow Fight and Other Tales in May 2024, David’s wife Philippa, his family and Stanage Press Ltd are proud to have fulfilled the promise we made to David before he left us that we would in time publish all his completed stories for him. We hope that children of all ages will continue to delight in reading and re-reading Philippa and the Homeless Bumblebee, Mr Snuffles’ Birthday, The Homesick Fox and The Armadillo Pillow-Fight and Other Tales for many years to come.