Russell Grant was born in Hillingdon, Middlesex. He is a popular astrologer and media personality. He is the UK's 'astrologer royal', and is frequently quoted in the media, as well as working as a television presenter.
He has campaigned for the continued awareness and existence of his beloved County of Middlesex. This is outlined in his first non-astrological best-seller The Real Counties of Britain. He is known as Mr Middlesex in his home county and donates much of his spare time to the promotion of the county. Every summer he runs special cricket schools for young players and is an Ambassador for the Alzheimer's Society.
He has written several books dealing with matters astrological, among which is his biggest international seller The Illustrated Dream Dictionary. He has had his books translated into languages ranging from Chinese to Afrikaans, over 20 in all.
He is the president of the Association of British Counties and the author of a book on British counties, The Real Counties of Britain, notable in that it commissioned Ordnance Survey to produce maps of all the ancient county boundaries of England, Scotland, and Wales.
In 1996 he was donated the title Lord of Ashford in Middlesex. The year after he was awarded by the Royal College of Heralds his own coat of arms for being eminent in his field. He has homes in Middlesex and a 40 acre Victorian estate near Portmeirion, North Wales. He succeeded Sir John Betjeman as Patron of Roots - County Conservation.
He is the founder of the Middlesex Family Foundation which links all the Middlesex named places around the world together. He has his own officially recognised charity WISE (Wales Ireland Scotland England) Communities and works for research into a cure for Alzheimer's and Dementia and sports and creative expression for old and young alike. To this end he has poured much of his money into youth cricket leagues for young people and many other philanthropical and altruistic causes.
He met his partner Doug at age 20, and as of early 2008, they have been together for 36 years.
