Walter Thornhill

My recent four-year adventure, away from the hustle and bustle of the corporate world, led me into a journey of further self-exploration and discovery.

Eye of the Child, an inspirational memoir of how tenacity, sport and self-awareness can help overcome trauma.  A boy becomes a man and represents his country in cycling – triumphing over a bewildering youth of emotional neglect by alcoholic parents.

Life consequences into adulthood are shared, whilst exploring philosophical insights gained from other cultures with inquisitiveness and zest.  These delightful anecdotes are intertwined through wonderful imagery; set within the context of apartheid South Africa and beyond. 

Yet, at its heart is something more universal – hope, forgiveness, resolve, and healing that is consciously shared with much warmth, humour, humility and understanding as the “inner child” is healed.

Please see: foreword, reviews and endorsements, and trust you will be soon  enjoying your copy of Eye of the Child . . .

Electronic – all countries (via Amazon)

Paperback – countries listed below

 BUY   UK        BUY   FRANCE       BUY   ITALY        

BUY   SPAIN        BUY   GERMANY

BUY   USA      BUY   JAPAN

BUY  SOUTH AFRICA

CORPORATE BIOGRAPHY

Formative years were in South Africa, having been raised and educated there. Subsequently, an almost equal time in the United Kingdom. A cross cultural peoples’ person and an articulate lateral thinker – enjoyed the corporate hustle and bustle in international banking, commodity trading and the consulting world.  Consultancies are still undertaken and non-executive directorships.

Early sporting endeavours culminated in representing South Africa in cycling, and being awarded Springbok colours.  Nowadays, when in England, he is more likely to be spotted chasing a ball on the tranquil croquet lawns, or cycling around Richmond Park, possibly musing: It’s like a meditation, Zen like; the crossing of the cables reminds me of inner and outer consciousness, and the feminine within – the man that returns is different from the one that went out.

LITERARY BIOGRAPHY

Extensive travel throughout the world has fed an anthropological and spiritual quest, mostly among the Quechua Indians of Peru, the Balinese, and the Zulus of Southern Africa.  These explorations of cultures, traditions, beliefs, and ways of life were part of making sense of life.

Ever since a youth, guided by a sheer love and respect for nature, Walter believes, the answers we need are revealed to us, if we only know how to see and truly interpret Nature.

Eye of the Child is his first book – surviving and growing from a bewildering journey through childhood and adolescence into adulthood, and its consequences are viewed from the perspective of other cultures, beliefs and practices, as his ‘inner child’ is healed. The reader is effortlessly transported through the wonderful imagery and descriptive anecdotes.

Vicissitudes, that many of us may have experienced, are balanced with hope, humour, humility and understanding – above all humanness.

The inquisitiveness continues, and feeds my zest for life.

Available for inspirational public speaking.

Destiny and consequences refreshingly woven through conscious storytelling as Walter, in becoming a Springbok cyclist, pedals his way through a perplexing adolescence.

 Jennifer Schormann, The Bardolino Artists’ Retreat, South Africa

This charming book – moving and instructive. A work that every therapist and their clients would do well to read and ponder.

Allan Pimentel, Deputy Director of CCPE – Centre for Counselling and Psychotherapy Education, London

Rousing and engaging, neither a ‘victim book’, nor a platitudinous new age self-help book – rather infinitely more urgent, more raw, and more demanding than that, and written with a great deal of love.

William Ayot – Author and Poet

This fascinating lucid book, colourful and rich in style, is a reminder that many events in our life remain unanswered and unresolved, while lured into the search for meaning of identity and belonging.

Caterina Zaiontz, Psychopathology and Transcultural Psychology Università Cattolica del Sacro Cuore, Milan, Italy

Brilliantly written with such warmth and flow.

Gill Brooksmith, Kinesiologist

An unvarnished reflection on how a child becomes a man, how experiences which may seem small in the moment, shape character. Perseverance begets strength, and in strength there is always hope.

Chet Burchett, CEO

Private events:

Walter is available for speaking engagements.

Public events:

Walter is available for ‘book signing’s’ and ‘book club’ presentations.

Upcoming public event: