The Mumper

About me:

...And the winner of Best Short Film 2008 is...

THE MUMPER!

Delighted to accept the award last night at the screening's and delighted that it was the audience that voted for the winner, the people of the South spoke.

Many thanks to Shona, Danny, Steve, Glen, Helen, Jeannie amd Lou, all of whom came down last night.

"I've been and well and truly Mumpered!

Loved the book!"

Johnny Harris, Actor and Walworth Road resident.

The Mumper promo film..."The Silencer"

Paolo Hewitt reading from the book, at the launch, Sept 2007

If someone ever comes up with an idea of screening another Quadrophenia-styled “whateveraged mod’s forgotten story” taking place sometime in the mid’80s, this would be as good a script as any.

The main plot captures 7 South Londoners, fellow Millwall sufferers, also refered to as “The Jolly Boys”, all looking forward to Sunday meetings down the local pub, instead of allnighters or rallys with fellow faces.

The actual line-up consists of three generations of mods, two of them original ’60s ones, still wearing the same old mohair suits and fondly remembering Georgie at the Flamingo, another pair of Guv’nor Weller initiated ones, and three of them from the time when the term was yet to be coined ... obvious modernists at heart though.

Add to this a couple of trips to the country for horse race meetings, the print workers’ strike, an occasional Stevie Marriott quote, and you’re pretty close to what this is all about.

Add to this a specially recorded Marco Nelso “soundtrack” tune and Bob's your Mum's brother!

Goran Obradovic

2008

"It's the Red Rum of Reads!"

Gary Crowley DJ and Broadcaster

"As a north London boy I was a little concerned about taking an adventure over the water, but The Mumper was a truly enjoyable journey into the heart of the deep south."

Robert Elms - BBC London 94.9 fm

"Its a funny, moving, lyrical account beautifully written in the argot of south east London. MAGNIFICENT ... really fabulous stuff, brilliantly written and completely captivating. I can't recommend it highly enough."

Matthew Norman - Evening Standard

"An Ealing comedy for the 21st Century"

Martin Freeman - Actor

"A great read. It's original, funny and moving. The dialogue is sharper than the creases on a pair of sta-pressed Farahs." Ian Moore - Comedian, Writer, Chutney-Maker, Mod. www.ianmoore.info

"F***ing loved it. Does bring to mind the Colin MacInnes London Trilogy .. with, of course, Absolute Beginners at top of the threesome. It's that fast pace style, with the characters rather than the plot leading the way. Certainly a jazzy, street-wise style to it. Anyway, dying to read more. How long do I have to wait?!"

Mike Cobley New Leaf Media www.magazine.brighton.co.uk

Paolo Hewitt, ex NME journalist, is a well known author and broadcaster with 20 books to his name.

He is the author of The Sharper Word: A Mod Anthology, The Soul Stylists, The Greatest Footballer You Never Saw: The Robin Friday Story, The Looked After Kid, All Too Beautiful, the story of Steve Marriott and The Fashion of Football, co-written with Mark Baxter.

Mark Baxter is a former shop owner, club owner, DJ and current manager of the band Connett. He was born with a passion for '60's clothing, Tubby Hayes and Millwall Football Club. The Mumper is his second book with Paolo.

The first book being the celebrated, cult classic The Fashion of Football, which was voted one of the 50th Best Football Books of All Time, by the esteemed magazine Four Four Two.

Check out www.footballandfashion.co.uk for further details.

The Mumper was published at www.lulu.com in the Summer of 2007 by Mono Media Books, which is based in London and Sorrento, Italy...

Simply press this button to purchase the book