Published: Thursday, 4th September, 2008 08:45
Wartime memories at book launch
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AN author who has chronicled his life in wartime Britain has spent most of this year reliving his experiences.
Richard Holdsworth, from Sonning, was a London lad who was evacuated to Upper Basildon just before Hitler marched on Poland in September 1939, and has written a book based on his fraught years as a city boy living a village life.
For the launch of Six Spoons of Sugar, he has been attending World War One themed events all over the south, including the Army Show at Aldershot, the War and Peace Show at Paddock Wood in Kent, and the Brenzett Aero Museum at Romney Marsh in Kent.
The book will get its grand launch at Waterstone’s in Broad Street, Reading, on Thursday, September 25. The whole shop will be decked out as if it is 1944, with re-enactors, period songs and dances, and one of the country’s best Churchill look-a-likes, Joe Mahoney from Swindon.
Mr Holdsworth, 71, who will sign copies of his book, said: “Sales so far have been to school children studying World War II at school for Key Stage Two as well as evacuees who, like me, want to reminisce over the day they were sent off to miss Hitler’s bombs.”
Waterstone’s manager Mark Pocock said: “The book appeals to a wide audience – the little boy maintains a scrapbook with clippings from newspapers of the day and BBC news broadcasts, plus a liberal sprinkling of illustrations, to make it a valuable reference of World War Two.”
After growing up in Upper Basildon, Mr Holdsworth worked his passage to Australia and became a cattle-hand and later a journalist in Melbourne where he met his wife, Heather.
He returned to the UK in the late 1960s and the couple set up a camper van business in Middlesex which they later moved to Woodley. More recently, he has been concentrating on writing short stories and researching his book.
For an invitation to the launch party, which starts at 7.30pm, call Waterstone’s on 0118 958 1270. Wartime dress is encouraged, but not compulsory.
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