Jeremy Bell lives in Appledore, N.Devon. On leaving school he hitch-hiked through Europe, N.Africa and the Middle East before emigrating to Australia as a '£10 tourist'.
There he worked in mining towns, on fishing boats, drilling rigs, and in an institution for young aboriginal offenders. Returning to England he trained as a PE teacher and taught in secondary schools in London and Devon.
Subsequently he also took a National Certificate in Agriculture and a Dip HE in theological studies. At the beginning of the 1980s he set up and directed Creation Restoration Ltd in South Molton, Devon, the first comprehensive rural recycling business in the UK dedicated to the practical implementation of Schumacher's dictum 'Think Globally - Act Locally'.
During this period he also served as a town and county councillor before resigning, moving to London to become publicity and marketing director for a developing world charity.
Returning to Devon he set up the Renaissance Maritime Charitable Trust, who's aim is to build a cargo-carrying sailing ship carrying relief supplies and self-help technologies to developing countries, and crewed by young people 'at-risk'. Despite huge support, this practical dream still remains to be realised.
Until recently he was on the Co Op council because he firmly believes in co-operative values and principles.
Married, with three grown up children, he grows his own veg and keeps chickens and two pigs.
He continues to campaign on local environmental issues.