John Clohesy is a  Lecturer in Land Based Studies at Brooksby Melton College in Leicestershire, where he has taught agriculture for the past 21 years.

“I am  married with 4 children, and freely admit that like most adults, I have to ask my children for advice when it comes to computers.

My hobbies include making boats out of plywood, and, like spreadsheets, spending more time using them than building them.”

I would like to extend my thanks to my family for putting up with all the evenings of monosyllabic communication during the preparation of this publication, all the proof reading and testing they have done, in particular the great help that my son Anthony has been in solving some of the mysteries of Microsoft Excel.

I would also like to thank all those many members of the farming community who have committed their time and patience to learning how to use spreadsheets, who have acted as un-paid proof readers of the notes in this publication, pointing out inconsistencies, errors, or better ways of doing things.  I would also like to thank Kim Stanford, who was on an industrial placement at the East Midlands Development Agency, and took time and trouble to check material and suggest amendments and additions. Any errors which remain despite this help remain entirely my own, however!

Thanks too are due to a range of people who have encouraged the process of publication, in particular Margaret Cameron, of Melton Borough Council, Tim Dawson of the LSC, and Libby Kingsley of the Welland Partnership who have helped identify suitable sources of funding for the project.

Funding for the project, from the East Midlands Development Agency and Leicestershire Learning and Skills Council, is much appreciated.

I would also like to thank Margaret Mott, of Black Dog Web Design who designed this website, and whose enthusiasm for the aims of the project was most welcome.”
--John Clohesy