More concidences: I saw Tim’s grandfather, wartime RAF pilot Dizzy Addicote, race a Lotus at Brands Hatch. And Tim played at parties given by Martin (Mr Karting) Hines who I also knew from my agency days (one of his sponsors, Hermetite, was a client) and whose son Luke joined me and Andre Severs for the Seat Toledo test at Silverstone last month.

The email, from Kathryn Stuart, disclosed that her grandfather Samuel Radley Green had been Barnard’s engineer on the flight in an Airco DH4. She has a cup presented to him by Captain Barnard in gratitude for ‘ the large part he played in the winning of the King’s Cup 1922.’ She added: ‘ I am trying to find (Captain Barnard’s)

original cup to put the two back together for the anniversary. Flight magazine are interested.’

All I was able to do, I’m afraid, was tell her disappointingly that I am not related to the air ace in question and was unable to help in her search for the winner’s cup. But at least I can record the coincidence here and see if anyone else knows where it might be. And if it turns up, I’ll be sure to mention it here. Meanwhile, Ms Stuart is attending a recording of the Antiques Road Show in Farnborough on 10 May. I’d be surprised if they don’t feature it in the programme. And naturally I’m sending her a copy of A Time For Heroes with the passage about the King’s Cup marked, pages 403 and 406.

That was a long time ago but in the Bristol studios wheels rather appropriately have been turning and last week the programme’s producer contacted me. ‘ Your request has been passed to me…as I can’t locate (the poem)…would you mind emailing the text?’ Which of course I was delighted to do. Not only that but I was able to contact the author and put him in touch with the Beeb to clear copyright. In her thank-you note Christine Hall commented: ‘ It’s an unusual request and although I haven’t for the moment the right programme for it, I’d be surprised if someone doesn’t pick it out before too long.’ Hope so, because as I told her: ‘ It’s by someone who knows what he’s writing about, the thrill of testing a racing car to its limit in search of the perfect lap.’ And I’d like it broadcast as a further tribute to my old track adversary and friend Robert Baker-Carr.

The Test Of A Lifetime
by Sir John Whitmore

John Whitmore
July 1994

The hardcover and ebook versions of A Time For Heroes were duly published today, 29 March. The occasion will be marked, two days from now, at Martello Bookshop, High Street, Rye where I’ll be signing hardcovers as well as some of my other titles, courtesy of Martello’s owners Wendy and Terry Harvey, among the best independent booksellers in the country and also good friends. I’ll be in position with pen poised from 11.00 a.m.

Meanwhile, Headline Review have created a bespoke website for the novel on Facebook, facebook.com/frankbarnardauthor. This is in addition to the facebook.com/frankacbarnard one I already maintain. Confusing isn’t it? Particularly as, at the time of writing, it’s proving impossible to access the new one. But no doubt the Headline team will sort it out.

Goldsboro are pre-eminent as suppliers of pristine first-editions to book collectors worldwide. I was there to sign hardcover firsts of A Time For Heroes, supported by my publicity guru from Headline Review, Ben Willis. Goldsboro director David Headley joined us, with his assistant Daniel Conway.

I say ‘us’ as my wife Jan came up to town also, so a good time was had by all. And that’s not to forget Toby who was there too, furry, four-legged & who spent time lying on my feet under the signing table; David’s charismatic dog I should add.

For this introduction to Andre Severs exceptional team I owe Peter James a debt, because he’ll be racing with them, lucky chap, throughout the coming season. For me? Maybe an outing later in the year.
* BTCC: British Touring Car Championship

Thanks John, and I hope you find the others in the series equally entertaining…

This needs stressing because a) I don’t want to disappoint loyal readers of the first three novels who might purchase thinking they’ll learn more of the duo’s adventures b) I’m aiming at a broader readership with what’s been dubbed ‘an epic of family, class and warfare‘ spanning three generations and two world wars, though there’s plenty of flying still, starting with the pioneer days.

Naturally I’m hoping to carry my existing reader-base with me in this venture into new territory.

It’s the account of a motor trip through Spain, Morocco, Spain again and then France by an obviously well-connected trio, Henry, Jack and the writer, who does not name himself.

Click to enlarge

It starts on 16 March in the Ritz Hotel, Madrid, progresses to Algeciras, then onto to Gibraltar where the Governor Smith-Dorrien arranges for ‘the Admiral’ to take them to Casablanca in a destroyer! From there to Rabat, Fez, then back to Algeciras ‘where dined with Lady Wimborne and Miss Greenwood’, before concluding in Paris meeting Lord Derby.

It’s tantalising to speculate on who wrote this. It’s written in a camp, knowing and quite witty manner; also who went to the trouble of having the diary typed up and encased in an expensive binding.

Ideas, anyone?

I was visiting there as part of my research for what turned out to be A Time For Heroes. Seeing the grave of 2nd Lieutenant G.Wiglesworth, dated 8 July 1916, (with the inscription ‘Our darling boy’) the unusual name made me speculate whether the creator of Biggles, Captain W.E.Johns, might have come across Wiglesworth and adapted his unusual name. Johns, also a pilot, was stationed near Nancy, a fair distance, but they might have trained together. But no-one took up the challenge.

Coming across the shot again I put it on the forum of The Aerodrome, the excellent international website for those interested in World War One aviation. It prompted an interesting response from Stephen K, a pilot himself by the way, who suggests there was no connection. ‘ According to Johns’ biography (By Jove Biggles), Johns didn’t start his RFC training until September 1917 and during the early part of the war he was in the infantry in Salonika. So very unlikely to have any link.’

Stephen added however: ‘ Not in that biography but in “Early Birds” by Horrie Miller a reference is made to a G.Wigglesworth (Godfrey or Geoffrey) who bought a Vickers Vulcan out to Australia in 1923 and is a possible model for Johns.’

Wigglesworth was also mentioned in ‘Quantas Rising’ by Hudson Fysh, says Stephen, and photos can be found on the National Library Of Australia.

There was also another contender, ‘ plausible too’, more famous as a cricketer than pilot, a certain Cecil Wigglesworth. See what Wikipedia has to say here.

But coming across them the other day I wondered if the Tiger Moths in question were still flying. The answer: one certainly is, the other possibly.

The Tiger I’m leaning against was owned by Short Brothers at Rochester Airport between 1954-1960, registration either G-ANLR (de-registered) or G-ANLS (still registered). I used to go up with another reporter, Gordon Ankcorn, in the late-fifties when he was taking aerial photos.
Soon after this shot was taken I joined the RAF as a National Serviceman and never saw another aeroplane, apart from dummy Hawker Hunters at the camp gates.

The second Tiger shown has been identified as G-ANEH, a DH82A model. Enter the details on Google and pictures can be sourced showing it today, in bright yellow RAF livery. I flew in it in 1965, again as a bag of King Edwards, from Smiths Aviation’s flying base at Staverton near Cheltenham when doing a story for the Smiths Industries newspaper, of which I was editor. The pilot, whose name I forget, did an unsuccessful loop. We fell off the top and I nearly lost the Leica camera lent to me by the group publicity manager.

If anyone wants to join in as a friend (or even an enemy), all contributions gratefully received. Launches for Heroes are in planning for end-March early April at various locations: London, Tunbridge Wells, Rye, Sevenoaks, Tenterden. Anyone interested in coming along just let me know and I’ll keep you informed about location/dates/times.

A magnificent, sweeping three-generation historical epic encompassing two world wars, about the nature of heroism, the romance of flying and the eternal conflict between fathers and sons.

War makes heroes of men, but at what price? As the twentieth century dawns Guv Sutro becomes a pioneer aviator against his father’s will, piloting a primitive glider over the fields of Sussex, helped by the unquestioning loyalty of his friend Stan Kemp. A ruthless course to fame and adulation follows: soon he is a fighter ace on the Western Front, then a record-breaker between the wars. But as another global conflict approaches his beliefs are questioned. With England once more at war his son Tim, a reluctant pilot in the RAF, strives to shed the burden of his father’s reputation while Will Kemp, his boyhood friend, the son Guv felt he deserved, seeks to emulate the man he still idolises in the Battle of Britain.

The fate of these men is bound together in the monumental ambition and terrible tragedy of a time for heroes.

Read a sneak peak of the first chapters here!

Publication date: Hardcover edition March 2012, paperback July 2012

The promised first chapter taster will be here in a week or so, I’m still kicking around the opening sequence, so vital to making someone a) read a page or two in the store or on Amazon b) not return it to the shelf or click on something else.

So far so encouraging, but there are some structural issues to work out and also they’re not so mad about the title. I’m delaying the excerpt until these discussions are concluded. But overall it’s a relief to know there’s such enthusiasm in Euston Road. Meanwhile, I’ve had many e.mails from readers saying they think it’s a great idea. Slightly untypical, below, was one from Kevin Bolt who says he doesn’t need the preview:

Dear Frank,
Just finished reading your three books and was totally gripped, finishing them over a couple of weeks. When I finished To Play The Fox and couldn’t find a sequel, my stomach sank that maybe that was simply the end. So I hunted down this site and was relieved to find you’re keeping busy. Don’t leave us hanging on too long to find out what’s in store for our boys Kit and Ossie! No need to release a sneak chapter as far as I’m concerned, I’ll buy it the second it hits the shelves regardless,
Kevin Bolt