About

Simon Maddrell is a Manx writer, editor, educator, performer & activist. After 30-years experience in the corporate and charity sectors, he has had poetry published since 2018,  including six poetry pamphlets. Their debut poetry collection, blue spine, will be published by Out-Spoken Press in Feb 2026.

What Simon Offers

Simon is a seasoned performer, editor and mentor. He has built up a reputation as an incisive editor and supportive mentor. As a workshop facilitator, he specialises in creative writing for wellbeing and the development of poetry as a craft. 

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  • "I feel I am a better poet because of Simon's intervention. I cannot sing his praises highly enough."

    Chalice Am Bergris

  • "Simon's editing eye is masterly. I really enjoyed working with Simon and recommend him as a mentor."

    Mary Mulholland

  • "Simon is a tender, thoughtful poet who exudes gravitas with a deep respect and love for the art."

    Rick Dove — Poet & Storyteller

  • "Discursive, reflective, active — with helpful ways of seeing. You're a great teacher!"

    Tim Taylor — Dance teacher

  • "Simon was good at demystifying writing. Surprised how well it pulled out memories and that I could portray them in poetry."

    Wellbeing Workshops Attendee

  • "Anyone wanting to take their poetry to the next level would benefit from Simon's knowledge & experience."

    Nóra Blascsók

Simon’s Background

Simon was born in the Isle of Man in 1965 but brought up in Bolton, Lancashire. In 1985 Simon led an expedition to Kenya to build water tanks and dams alongside a rural drylands community in Kenya after raising £32k in six months. After four years across the border in Bradford to gain a Peace Studies degree, he returned to Manchester then Bolton. 

In 1992 he joined Xerox in Gloucestershire where he achieved world class improvements in supply chain inventory and product costs. In 1999 he managed the digitization of BT's office document infrastructure –– at the time Xerox's largest-ever contract. He later delivered the same for Prudential Insurance. Read more on his LinkedIn Profile.

In 2002, Simon set up Excellent Development (now Sand Dams Worldwide), which has supported over 1.2 million people in the world's dry places to gain access to clean water and grow more food having planted 1.4 million trees and built over 1,350 sand dams. He is the author of the definitive sand dam manual, with another, The Art & Science of Sand Dams in final drafts.

Simon converted to a 'third life' of poetry in 2018. Simon has had six pamphlets and two joint-anthologies published since 2020. Queerfella was the joint-winner of the The Rialto Open Pamphlet Competition 2020 and his last three pamphlets have been Poetry Book Society selections.  Their debut poetry collection will be published by Out-Spoken Press in February 2026. 

Key Achievements

Simon was Bolton's  'Young Citizen of the Year' in 1983. In 1985, Simon led an expedition to Kenya to build water tanks and dams alongside a rural drylands community in Kenya after raising £32k in six months. In 1989, he won the Edward Lynn Prize for best graduate in the School of Peace Studies. In 1995 he was Assistant Leader of another youth expedition to Kenya, which won the Times Educational Supplement Award. 

Founder of Excellent Development in 2002, which won the UK Charity of the Year in 2008 and many other accolades since. In 2013, Simon was made a Paul Harris Fellow by Rotary International. In 2019 Simon was a finalist in the UNCCD Land for Life Award recognising 30 years contribution to tackling land degradation.  Excellent raised over £15M during his 14 years as Founder & CEO.

Since 2019,  Simon has been published in over 25 anthologies and 70-plus journals as well as being placed, highly-commended and shortlisted in a number of competitions. Simon's Queerfella was the joint-winner of the The Rialto Open Pamphlet Competition 2020 alongside Selima Hill. Their debut poetry collection is forthcoming from Out-Spoken Press in February 2026. 

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