Born and raised in Dublin, Prof. Patrick OFarrell attended school at St Andrews College, Dublin and then read Natural Sciences at Trinity College, Dublin. From Spinning Tops to Laptops is a journey back in both time and place commencing in Dublin in the make-do- and-mend era of the 1940s and 1950s before subsequently moving to Northern Ireland, Wales and Scotland. North Berwick, a charming coastal resort near Edinburgh, has been his home for more than three decades. The memoir is set against the background of the major processes of political, economic, social and cultural changes occurring in both Britain and Ireland. He is currently an Emeritus Professor at Heriot-Watt University and has previously worked in four other universities. Married with three grown-up daughters and seven grandchildren, he is a great lover of classical music, choral singing, reading and walking. Patrick is also a passionate supporter of the Irish rugby team.