After leaving school, Roy E. Dunford spent twelve years in the army. Later, after settling into civilian life, he took the post of senior housemaster at a boarding school and was also detachment commander of an army cadet group.
He has always enjoyed art, and when working at the boarding school students would often ask him to draw for them.
His children and grandchildren were interested in the stories he made up, so a combination of art and stories brought what is now called Happy Valley.
