Born in Brooklyn, New York, and only son of a Scottish Mother and American Father.
His mother, Marion Rae, a proud Scot, brought her son home to Muirkirk, Ayrshire, expecting her husband, Joseph , to follow but he never did.
Throughout his life, Joe desperately tried to make contact with his American Father.
Joe made serveral trips to the U.S.A. during his search and eventually tracked down his father's sister, sadly to be told that his father had recently died.
Joe was therefore brought up in Scotland and began his trucking career at the age of fifteen. Life on the road appealed to Joe's independent spirit and during his travels he made many lifelong friends.
In 1980, he settled in Stockton-on-Tees and married Barbara shortly afterwards. Barbara was part of al large family who immediately welcomed Joe in to their lives. Both had previous marriages but this union was unique.
Joe wrote poetry throughout his life, a trait he inherited from his mother.
Many of his friends and family were the recipients of his prose.
In 1995, Joe was diagnosed with Lung cancer and despite a courageous struggle, he died 26th August 1997.

Joe touched the lives of many people and this poems are an indication of his life and his loves.