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Fred's Interests
Books
Published Work
The Battle for Badger's Wood Sensitively combining humour and pathos, the story follows the events that lead the animals of Badger's Wood to unite with conservationists in a fight against the developers who would rob them of their homes.
Fly, bird! Fly! An odyssey detailing a breathtaking, heart stopping 6,000 mile journey, made by a flock of Swallows on their annual migration to Africa, during which their survival depends upon fighting the elements and man every inch of the way.
The Breaking Sword Set in the harsh battlefields of Roman Britain, the last violent and exciting chapters of an era in Celtic history are played.
Gnor Bodi! Marcus Petronius, a young Roman Tribune serving under the Emperor Claudius, is reprieved from human sacrifice by the Catavallauni chieftain, Caratacus. Despite the resulting ties of friendship, Marcus must return to fight Caratacus and the Celtic tribes. After much bloodshed their combined fates are finally sealed by Cartimandua, the voluptuous Queen of Brigantia.
Malvern between the Wars Examines a period in history when Malvern became the cultural centre of the world, hosting the first British Film Festivals, concerts of Elgar, the first plays by George Bernard Shaw, and the first appearances of actors like Errol Flynn and Stewart Grainger. Recalled history by those who were there.
The Arboretum Story A social history of a small, well defined area of Worcester that was, in its earlier days, a well stocked arboretum, a pleasure gardens and place for the citizens to promenade, and an area in which the more disreputable could ply their trade.
New Works
Satan's Fuehrer In 1969 a British intelligence agent leads the fight against the combined forces of resurgent Nazism and the satanic powers released when the Lance of Longinus is stolen to create a new Fuehrer.
Gladstone the White Golliwog An anti-racist story for very young children about a white Golliwog rejected by his friends, all 'proper' Golliwogs, but befriended by a blackberry who persuades him to tackle the giant Grumple in order to solve his problems. Fully colour illustrated by the author.
The Battle for the Rio Alegre An exciting illustrated story of children and their donkeys, led by Carlitos and Loco, in an epic march across Spain to petition the Spanish government against turning their mountain valley village into an hydro-electric reservoir.
Excuse me, Sire. Be this the New World? A full length novel in which 17th century England meets 20th century America with hilarious and poignant consequences.
The Tree A radio play about inherited memory and the sort of world we are doomed to create, but with an acorn of hope.
Cuckwold's Nuclear War A humorous novel for 12-17 year olds in which a village that is about to be taken over by the Ministry of Defence for a secret nuclear base fights against bureaucracy, the Army and a spy with hilarious results.
Schtum! A children's book about a group of zoo animals bent on escape from captivity.
XANADU A children's book in which a schoolboy, Michael, meets Kublai Khan and Marco Polo, 725 years ago!
Keepers of the Stones A children's book.
The Thirteenth Disciple The amazing true story of Centurion Gaius Cassius, also known as "Longinus - The Spear Carrier", who pierced the side of Christ on the Cross with his spear.
About me: I am an ex-film and theatre stills photographer, an artist and author. With my wife, Maggie, we are restorers of pottery and porcelain from 5000BC onwards.
I hold an honours degree in English and American Literature and have lived in Malvern, Worcestershire for the last forty-five years.
Writing is my primary enjoyment, but whereas my forte is writing books my personal pleasure lies in poetry, wherein I can vent my feelings about some of the injustices of this world.
I love meeting people and enjoy the odd single malt whisky. I am a member of:
$2.2 trillion has been spent on the Iraq war...so far! But the government refuses to release a vaccine to protect its citizens on cost grounds alone!
To all travellers to the South West area of the USA: California, Nevada, Arizona, Utah, Colorado and New Mexico.
A fungal infection known as Valley Fever (coccidioidomycosis) is endemic in that area: 5000 victims in 2006 in Arizona alone. It is a crippling infection that can kill, as the mortality figures will testify. There is an inoculation vaccine for this disease; a large quantity of which is stored in the VA Centre in Tucson, unfortunately the US Government refuses to release it to those in need of protection on cost grounds alone!
Emails to all the governing/health bodies in all States and the White House asking for help have been ignored.
At the Valley Fever organization in Bakersfield, California they have a large support group and to my knowledge many people have had there voices heard in Congress but to no avail. None of us can understand why the funding cannot be released to help those who have sudden flair ups of this fungi or warn those who come to visit the regions. Indeed, it does border on insanity, and much, much more.
The bottom line is if all those who choose to relocate to these endemic regions or come to vacation in these area's and know of this infection then they would not come at all. So what it does say is they are afraid they will lose the almighty dollars that come from such major events as "The Gem & Mineral Show," and several major golfing events and of course major motion pictures.
If you have a little time to learn more about this fungi go to www.valleyfever.com there you will see there are other victims fighting for the release of the vaccine so that anyone who is visiting or planning to visit these parts of the US can be inoculated against the despair and anguish of the "South West's Best Kept Secret."
To date this has been emailed to leading figures representing each State concerned, the White House, National newspapers in the USA, all National newspapers in the UK and so far about 20,000 people throughout the world via MySpace. Please copy and pass it on, the tractor has become a steamroller and is rolling on...
UPDATE: Valley Fever has officially been upgraded from Endemic to EPIDEMIC! Are the authorities waiting for PANDEMIC before doing anything?
""♥ I SENT AN ANGEL ♥ TO WATCH OVER ♥ YOU LAST NIGHT ♥ BUT IT CAME BACK. ♥ I ASKED WHY? ♥ AND IT SAID... ♥ ANGELS DON'T WATCH OVER ANGELS! ♥ SEND THIS TO ♥ ALL THE PEOPLE YOU ♥ REALLY CARE ABOUT! ♥ 20 angels are in this world. ♥ 10 are sleeping ♥ 9 are playing ♥ And 1 is reading this comment ♥ Send this to 10 friends, ♥ including me! ♥ And if you get 5 replies..♥ someone you love will surprise you" Dear Fred, You & Maggie are in my thoughts and prayers... I have been kinda having a tough summer... Missing my husband so much. Can't believe he has been gone for 1 1/2 years. Seems like just a few months. I have just been trying to stay busy. I have been helping my mom & daddy with their garden. We have been canning green beans & pickles.(love those little ones...lol) We put up 120 ears of corn yesterday. (we cut the corn off and bagged in for the freezer) Have enjoyed spending time with them... My daddy hasn't been feeling very well. He had a heart attack back in 2002, and the doctors wanted to put in a defibrilater and he wouldn't let them...(stubborn man). He has always been a MANS MAN,, and he gets aggravated because he can't do what he is use to doing. He was 74 last April. My mother will be 72 in October. They are precious parents... I love them so very much. You take care My Dear Friend. Hang in there.. Love ya, Diana.... ;)
JUST STOPPED BY WITH AN 'I LOVE YOU BUNCHES'. TODAY, I'MA GOIN' IN...'THE CARDIACITRONS' ARE GONNA GET ME. WHEN I GET OUT, I'LL BE WIRED..HAHA..GET IT...I'M TOO SLEEPY. THIS IS INTERFERRING WITH MY NAP TIME. BLESSINGS IN YOUR DAY, FRED, OH FRED.. HUGS. -J-
