John spent his childhood in a military family, moving from place to place in the United Kingdom and abroad. His first memories are of Cyprus, the island of Aphrodite. Her legendary birthplace was near the family home. After a career in jewelry design, John earned a degree in Philosophy at the University of Birmingham, moved to Paris and began his study of French history along with a new career in guiding. He was awarded a professional diploma from Université Paris-Est, and has a particular interest in the life of Napoleon Bonaparte and the first French Empire.