A first novel from 80-year-old author

The grandfather-of-two was inspired to pen ‘Regret to Inform You . . .’ after writing a non-fiction book in 2009 entitled ‘Pirton - a Village in Anguish.’ It tells the stories of the 30 men named on the village’s World War One memorial.

Derek, who was head at Icknield from 1976 to 1992, talked to their relatives when he was researching the book for Pirton Local History Society.

He said: “The war had a profound impact on their wives, sweethearts and families. One woman lost two brothers while a young bride was married for only 17 months, then spent 53 years a a widow.”

Their remarkable resilience encouraged him to write the novel, which is based in the fictitious Suffolk village of Rusfield.

> Regret to Inform You .. . (Troubador) costs £7.99.