Kent was born on 28 July 1951 in Hartshill, Stoke-on-Trent, England, and was educated at Hanley High School in Stoke-on-Trent, where he passed 7 O level and 4 A level. He gained a second-class honours degree in International Relations from the University of London in 1973 and a postgraduate Certificate of Education from Crewe College of Higher Education in 1974. Nevertheless, the main influences on his life were empirical rather than academic and most of his interests and creative impulses were developed before he ever attended a school, largely resulting from the various activities his parents involved him in.
Kent taught History and Geography at Maryhill Comprehensive School, in Kidsgrove, from 1973 to 1974 and at Leek College from 1976 to 1980. In 1980, he became a full-time lecturer in General Studies at Stoke-on-Trent Technical College, but halved his post in 1986 to enable him to spend more time on his creative work. In 1982, he established and co-ordinated the first Flexi-Study (Open Learning) course in Staffordshire and went on to tutor in History, Geography, Ecology and Sociology. In 1991, he began lecturing in English at Stoke on Trent College and later lectured there in History, Geography and International Perspectives. Since 1994, he has lectured in Writing & Publishing and Creative Writing and in 2006 he was elected as the college's UCU branch secretary, which post he still holds.
Writings
With an interest in local football club Port Vale, Kent has written three books, detailing the clubs history. He went across the country to find archived information from past newspapers and magazines, as well as private collections to build statistics on past seasons and players. His interest in the subject started in 1956 when he first began to regularly attend matches at Vale Park.
He has also written books on numerous other topics, including a biography of Eric Burdon.
Music
In the late 1970s, Kent was a pioneer of environmentally-orientated music and released an animal rights protest single, Butcher's Tale, with his five-piece band The Witan, on Witan Records in 1981. The band consisted of main songwriter Kent on lead vocals, keyboards and percussion, Chris Barlow on flute and recorders, Colin Lunn on guitars, John Makoko on bass guitar and vocals and Andy Quin on drums and percussion. The same line-up released the two-part environmental album, Tales from the Land of the Afterglow, on Witan Records in 1984. Kent then performed benefit concerts for several environmental and humanitarian organisations. After that, he concentrated on his book writing, making only occasional sojourns into the music world. In 1992, he released his first solo work, Port Vale Forever, believed to be the first ever football club album. In 2000, he released his ecological concept album, Only One World, and made rare live appearances to promote it. Both his solo works were released on Witan Records.
Other activities
Kent served as Chairman of the Port Vale Supporters' Group from January 1992 to July 1994.
