@johnwilliswriter

Another crap London scheme where ever-diminishing affordable housing acts as a beard for unconvincing developers newsshopper.co.uk/news/25323785.…

Looking forward to discussing my new book with the brilliant Patrick Kidd at Blackheath Halls on 26 June. #Secondworldwar #RAF #Army #RoyalNavy

@robert_lyman @HelloFreemens it was an equal pleasure to join with Robert Lyman @HelloFreemens.His talk was a revealing insight into the war in Burma. I have a couple of Robert's books-more will be acquired. Good to talk to many bright young pupils, so keen on the lessons of history.

Very pleased to share a platform last night at the VE celebrations at @HelloFreemens with John Willis, who's People's War is published this week. John has used the 47,000 artefacts in the BBC's People's War archive (which I also use) to produce an excellent portrayal of the contribution made by people of This Sceptred Isle to the defeat of tyranny in the Second World War. Do pick up a copy! amzn.eu/d/a79nVUU

An eagle-eyed friend spotted my new book The People's War in the front window of Hatchards, Cheltenham.Anxious authors can spend a longtime rearranging bookshop shelves to show their books off better.Not this time.#secondworldwar #secondworldwarhistory

Out this week in time for the 80th VE Day anniversary. Not the history of politicians and generals but of ordinary men and women who survived 6 years of war. Drawn from an astonishing, underexplored BBC archive. #ww2 #spitfire #VEDay80 #VJDay80

@patrick_kidd Patrick-The Times won't be the same without your elegant wit.If you send me your home address I will get a copy of my new book sent to you. Email best john_willis@hotmail.com And ,of course, if someone would pay you for it ,happy for you to review it.-John

4/ Finally, it's been fun. I've been lucky to have had some good years in journalism and made some excellent friends including here, some of whom I have never met. My aim was always to cheer people up a bit and isn't that needed? Illegitimi non carborundum, as Cicero never said

🚨So, some personal news... because mid-afternoon on a Friday is a great time for breaking news... and please excuse a mini-thread. After 23 years on The Times, 20 of them as staff, and a record 12 years as Diary editor, I'm leaving at the end of next week.

@WW2Talk Trying to contact Ron's family about a book I am writing for BBC Books.Can anyone help? #armedforces #Jewish

It's the third anniversary of Ron's death today. He often used to say you weren't really gone as long as people still talk of you. Well, we do. And will. The WW2 service chaps are fading out. Study of that war will never be quite the same.

Battle of Britain day is very close. Perfect time to read Fighter Boy or come to the East Grinstead Museum 7pm 3 October to hear more. #Hurricane #Spitfire #WW2 #RAF #Fightercommand

79 years ago yesterday,Geoffrey Page was shot down in flames. It was later said 'even in the context of the Battle of Britain he was the bravest of the brave.'Read Fighter Boy to understand what made Geoffrey such a complex, courageous figure.#Hurricane #Spitfire #WW2 #guineapig

@1940Andy You don’t look that old Andy.Are you sure it wasn’t 1999

It was indeed a splendid evening, John. Thank you for the invite and I look forward to getting stuck into the book this weekend. Although I can’t quite get my head around the fact that our initial collaboration dates back to 1979 and ‘Churchill’s Few’ !

@DrHelenDoe @1940Andy @robert_lyman @Ancestry Yes Nicholas and Lolly were both at the launch of Fighter boy which has several chapters about McIndoe and his innovative treatments

@1940Andy @robert_lyman @Ancestry They were there. I spoke to them as McIndoe assisted on my father’s surgery. Harold Ghillies was his key surgeon on as Dad’s was maxillofacial due to a gunsight injury.

Quite amazed at @ancestry. A DNA notification has just told me that I’m related to Sir Archibald McIndoe, through his mother, Mabel Hill. That’s very special. en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mabel_Hill

Brilliant Fighter Boy event at the RAF Club last night. Beautiful readings by Christine Kavanagh. Page and McIndoe families present.Memorable. #spitfire #Hurricane #RAF #Worldwar2 #GuineaPigClub

VE Day anniversary today .New book published worldwide. It was said of Geoffrey that 'even in the context of the Battle of Britain he was the bravest of the brave.' 2 years as a 'Guinea Pig. Flew on D-Day, Arnhem, Battle of Normandy. Remarkable. #Hurricane #Spitfire #WW2 #BofB

Exciting box of books arrived. The paperback of Nagasaki published tomorrow( 1 Dec) worldwide. Available on Amazon and elsewhere.

@DrHelenDoe Lovely evening to celebrate a terrific book.Highly recommended.Good to meet Andy again after more than 40 years!

A great evening celebrating the book.

Yesterday three of my books-Churchill's Few, Secret Letters and Nagasaki:The Forgotten Prisoners were published by Monoray/Octopus. Very well read and produced.Available on Audible/Amazon.#COFEPOW #POWS #WW2 #Hurricane #Fukuoka14b #RAF

Happy birthday to Odette my mother in law.100 years young today.Lovely family celebration with great grandchildren.Only 99 years difference between her and the youngest.Here’s to the next 100.

@textiletart Sally-thanks for the interest.Very good response from early Australian readers-J

@johnwilliswrit1 Thanks for the heads up. Perfect for some Xmas gifts out here.

Book published in Australia next week.The Nagasaki survivors were a remarkable breed supported by mateship and an Aussie sens of humour.Alan Chick was blown off a building in the blast, married a Japanese woman and died aged 93.#HistoryWritersDay2022 #VJDay #COFEPOW #POWs #mensch