Jeff Merrifield, Ph.D. has worked in local government community arts as animateur and co-ordinator, organizing festivals, large-scale arts events and innovative projects, for over 43 years. Alongside this community work, he has developed his own creative projects and is founder of Playback Arts, producing theater, video, and publications. He is author of an investigation into the Cathar persecutions, The Perfect Heretics, numerous articles on a range of esoteric subjects and has written fourteen plays, edited three books of childrenís poetry, and one of senior citizen reminiscences. Jeff is co-ordinator of Artswork Essex, a charitable trust providing arts activities for young people, is founder of the Essex Arts Award and is trainer of advisers for the national young peopleís Arts Award. He lives in the Essex village of Great Totham in the UK.