John Shelton took a first degree at Hull University, an MA at Miami University and a PhD at Birmingham. He eventually became Head of Humanities at a polytechnic, incorporated into Staffordshire University, where he developed its first Arts and Social Science degree courses. Meanwhile, his interest in industrial archaeology led to various publications on the locally born R. J. Mitchell. Having taken early retirement to concentrate more fully upon renovating an Elizabethan manor house, he learned to fly motor gliders and light aircraft. Shelton currently lives near Eccleshall where he has continued his aviation research and aviation painting.