Search results for ""Author Shirley Thompson""

When Tommy Shelby, Steve Knight's principal character in The Peaky Blinders, first rode onto our television screen, viewers were presented with a battle-scarred, but still relatively young veteran, from the Great War. Meanwhile, in the neighbouring, real-life streets of Balsall Heath and Sparkhill, the Wareing family of eight children (and a musicallygifted mother, Lilian) struggled to cope with their invalid father's return to 65 Brunswick Road, fresh from the hell-hole of Gallipoli. Harry Senior, the author's grandfather, having contracted meningitis, returned home as a self centred, ruthless stranger. With a Good Old Days MC introduction, by Comedian, Entertainer and Papal Knight, Don Maclean, it features 12 of the author's newly composed songs. A Power Point display runs throughout, linked by five Edward Elgar compositions – the composer and Shirley's maternal Great Grandfather, Eustace Baylis, having been schoolboy friends. Introductory pages are followed by the main script, interspersed with song scores. All scenes are slide-illustrated, to correspond with the Power Point Disc (included). Music for the show's five 'a cappella' songs is in the Appendices. Add a diverse range of characters, plus shades of Oliver Twist, and we have an exciting new musical – just ripe for performance!

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This inspirational book is Pat Roach's final goodbye to the world, before his tragic death. The 'Gentle Giant' battled with cancer for six-and-a-half years, before it eventually claimed him, in the small hours of Saturday 17 July, 2004. His confidante and biographer, Shirley Thompson, has combined Pat's final experiences and thoughts, with over seventy tributes from close family and friends, to produce a fascinating book. Pat's widow, Doreen, step-brother Pete Meakin, and a host of celebrities, including Kevin Whately, Chris Fairbank, Julia Tobin, Noel Clarke, Jimmy Nail and Timothy Spall, all feature prominently. Tim Healy, who was a particularly close friend, has written an entire chapter, scriptwriters Dick Clement and Ian La Frenais provide an insightful Foreword. Pat's wish that this last book should convey a message of hope to fellow cancer patients, whilst also providing a measure of funding for the Cancer BACUP charity, will be realised, as the book is launched. His courage, combined with the warmth and affection that he frequently inspired in others, shines throughout. But be prepared for a few unexpected surprises, including a chapter that could only be published posthumously! Two galleries, containing over a hundred unique photographs, provide the crowning glory to this truly memorable book...the third and final biography in the "Pat Roach Trilogy."

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