Walking on Slapton Sands

author visits the site of her novel

Walking on Slapton Sands. Standing near the rusty rescued American tank. Looking out across Start Bay...

...it feels extraordinary to me as the author of the novel The Kid on Slapton Beach, combining the secrets and the hidden facts about Slapton Sands with my fictional family of twelve-year-old Harry, his little sister, and his mother. The real people, 3000 of them, had to leave this coastal area at Christmas 1943 without knowing there would be rehearsals for the D-Day landings here. When Harry, his little sister and his mother leave, Harry’s box of his precious possessions is left behind. It contains the only photo of his father who is away fighting in Italy, and missing. And Harry will go back for it.

It took two years of careful research to write the story. The truth about Exercise Tiger was only just beginning to leak out and I had to make sure I was finding out as much as I could, even though the facts had been hidden for more than fifty years. The young American GIs coming to Britain to take part in D-Day had no experience of battle. Secret rehearsals could help them comprehend what landing on

HAVE YOU READ IT?

HAVE YOU READ IT?

HAVE YOU READ IT?

The Secret Rehearsals for D-Day...

The Secret Rehearsals for D-Day...

The Secret Rehearsals for D-Day...

“A wonderful book...”

“A wonderful book...” the heavily fortified French coast would be like. And for that convoy coming in darkness towards the sands at Slapton in April 1944, just five weeks before D-Day, it was truly dangerous.

Michelle Magorian ‘Goodnight Mr Tom’

“A wonderful book...”

Michelle Magorian ‘Goodnight Mr Tom’

“A jewel!...”

Michelle Magorian ‘Goodnight Mr Tom’

“A jewel!...”

Actress June BrownDot in EastEnders

Actress June BrownDot in EastEnders

“A jewel!...”

Actress June BrownDot in EastEnders

One of the LSTs – the tank and troop carriers, was damaged as it set out. The men aboard were sent to other LSTs without recording names. One of the two warships accompanying the vessels went back to port with damage, leaving the rear of the convoy unprotected from German E Boat attack. Mistakes in the morse code meant no-one knew what was happening. Shelling the beach started an hour late just when the men were going ashore, and the ammunition used by the ‘defenders’ was live, but how could those men aim above the men’s heads or below their feet through the shelling and smoke? And my Harry has come back to that beach at the worst moment. He is The Kid on Slapton Beach.

Order from your favourite book store now: Paperback: £8.99

Order from your favourite book store now: Paperback: £8.99

ISBN 978-0-9535123-2-4

Order online or at your favourite book store now: Paperback: £8.99

ISBN 978-0-9535123-2-4

ISBN 978-0-9535123-2-4 www.wightdiamondpress.com www.wightdiamondpress.com www.wightdiamondpress.com from top: Start Bay; author Felicity Fair Thompson standing by the Sherman Tank at Torcross, May 2023

If you have the chance to visit Devon, visit that beach. Remember. But nearly eighty years on from those ill-fated D-Day rehearsals, now there couldn’t be a more peaceful place to stand in the Devon sunlight.

David William Press Artist

& Illustrator

Sussex-based artist finds success working with The Duchess of York. ingénu/e asked all about it.

How it began

I've have always enjoyed drawing since a child. But over the past few years I've plunged into the illustration and writing world. This came about by chance.

Back in 2016 I got back into drawing and was posting illustrated stories online. I would draw the pictures as I went along narrating the story. They were children's stories like 'The Magic Jelly In The Forest', 'Maurice The French Bird Who Can't Fly.' All silly fun stuff.

I received a message from a lady praising my work and that I should be making children's books, I replied, thanked her but thought nothing much further of it. A couple of days later I thought Hmmm she might want work done. I messaged her back asking if she needed illustrations.

There was another pause so I forgot about it. Then an email arrived, from the Duchess of York's office!

‘Would I be able to attend a meeting with regard to my work?’ Wow! ‘Of course!’ I replied. I went through the various checks and forms one has to fill in, (you cant just turn up at a royal residence! ‘Hello I've popped over to see the Duchess. She in?’ lol).

So, a meeting was arranged at her then London residence, 2pm sharp. As I knocked on the door I realised I had no idea how to address a Duchess. A slight panic loomed – Your highness? Your Grace? Sarah?! Duchess?! arrgh.. just be polite Dave. But before I could think it through the door opened: “Yes?” A smartly dressed, curious faced gent stood at the doorway.

“Hello, I've come to see the Duchess! She in?” (I didn't ask ‘She in’ of course) but before the man could answer the Duchess appeared. “Ah! David come in!” she said with a smile. Oh great I thought she's cool

She beckoned me into the kitchen and asked if I'd like a tea/coffee. She had her laptop with my illustrations on it and began describing something that I just didn't understand. A photo she had seen that morning had really inspired her, it was 'Rays of sunlight coming through the blades of grass and an ant's-eye view'. I simply didn't follow. She found the picture on her phone and held it up. “Look, what a fabulous photo”. I studied the picture. Ah! It was indeed an ant's-eye view, some sort of mini camera had been used, planted in the thick grass, the sunrays were shining through the blades like sunshine into some eco-cathedral. Awesome image. Her love and joy of all things art was evident. I smiled, and I don't know why but I just said “You're nearly as bonkers as I am!”

“Ha ha! No”, she replied, “I'm more! Now bring your tea, let's go into the front room and I'll show you what books I'm planning.”

For the next couple of hours we discussed her ideas, people popped in and out, sandwiches arrived, I made sketches and notes as she explained the stories and characters, it was real fun, and her speed of thought and creativity was a joy, as I'd not met anyone quite as enthusiastic for art as myself before! Before long a number of books were planned out.

The Duchess's humanitarian work

I was curious about her charity work as I had no idea what she did and really, who she was, I had always thought Oh, she's the down-to-earth Royal, not 'all serious', likes a laugh, red hair, rebel. That was about as far as my perceptions went.

I was astounded to find out the amount of work she had done, and people who had benefitted from it. She calmly explained what she did and how her charities had renovated and built over 50 schools and brought education to millions of children, and how she had taken a number of women from total poverty into work. This was in Afghanistan – she arranged to move a host of displaced women away from a war torn area in their country and then secured jobs for them, training to make scarves in a silk factory, she then called Harrods London and said something on the order of: “I've got some lovely scarves coming over, I'd like you to sell them!” There was a a very polite, smiley blonde-haired girl who showed me her charity work too, she was also doing incredible educational work for thousands, helping so many people It was Princess Beatrice. Naively, I was stunned. Why on earth isn't all this good work in the media. But of course that doesn't make a shock-horror story, shame that the media has no preference for good news.

I digress however!

The working relationship of Dave and the Duchess was established, and it is a dynamic one. Since its inception we have produced a large number of books, some published, some still being worked on, some independantly published by the Duchess herself, being international help books. For instance we produced a range of books for children in Ukraine, Moldova, Croatia, Poland and Hungary. These were made to help the children and parents of these areas.

World record speed

We work fast too, I think we broke a world record last Christmas. The Duchess had a Christmas story but we had not been able to get to it as other works had to be completed. We had just finished a charity book and there was a space. “David, would you read through this please?” came a text, “How long do you think it would take you to finish it?” ... “Hmm, you want this for Christmas? All ready to print?”

“Please, if you can, yes.”

Now there were about fifteen days to go before Christmas. I thought Let's go for it, let's see if we can get it to the printers. “Yes!” I replied. This was a really interesting task to take on, especially as the target deadline was so tight, it made me super focused and very organised, every part must be done right first time and work. I planned out the pages exactly, placed the text where it should go, designed the characters in the first day, and made a complete storyboard of every page/ cover etc the next. This I'd never done so well and quickly before. Many of the first sketches became the images in the book; if you are on the case the first pictures always have that magic that can't be enhanced or need to be re-drawn 'better'. The 34 page book was finished in ten days, rushed off to the printers and distributed to friends, family and colleagues of the Duchess in time for Christmas.

We have some incredible stories and books on the way. One of my favourites, as yet unpublished, has the most fascinating theme – a bit like Magic Garden meets Alice in Wonderland meets the Magic Faraway Tree.

The Duchess had the story finished, I loved it, however, she wanted to extend it. She briefed me on her ideas, and asked me would I do so. I loved the story so much I sat down and over a month or more, dove into the fantasy world of the story and came up with the larger version. But it was over 200 pages! All involved loved it but now it's a case of making the picture book version and the mini novel, which we will do once the current work is finished.

British Biker Bulldogs in What Makes Britain Great

The current project is my favourite so far, it started out when Duchess was smitten with three hilarious bulldogs owned by a friend – she saw a story there. She said: “British Bulldogs, what makes Britain great!” We did some research on British achievements and traditions etc and were astonished at the amount of talent and genius. We wanted to celebrate Britain and its people and acknowledge all the good and success that actually goes on. “Let's make it like a Beano annual!” I said. We stuck the Bulldogs on Triumph motorbikes and off we went. The book is nearly finished and I really look forward to seeing it in print.