A British children's author whose work has been compared to that of Richmal Crompton, Alan Davidson is of Scots descent, and was born in Langholm. He was educated at Thorne Grammar School, and pursued a career in the Civil Service, before turning to editing and writing. His first children's novel was published in 1978, under the pseudonym A.D. Langholm, undoubtedly chosen to honor his birth-place. Currently, Davidson publishes under his own name, and later reprints of his earlier work reflect that change.