Alex Norman was born in Bembridge and educated variously at Osborne House School (Seaview), Bembridge School, the Royal Military Sandhurst and the University of Oxford. He was a captain in the 17/21st Lancers before turning to journalism and writing.

 

He has written extensively about Tibet and was the ghost-writer of several of the Dalai Lama’s bestselling books, including Freedom in Exile. His acclaimed biography of the Tibetan leader was translated into 13 languages.

 

A keen private pilot himself, Alex’s family was at the heart of the Moth craze. His paternal grandfather, his two great uncles and his great aunt each had Moths while his father was co-designer of the Britten-Norman Islander, still Britain’s most successful aircraft since the Second World War.

 

He is a regular visitor to the island where he still has family and many friends.