Kenneth Williams was the st&-out comic actor of his generation. Beloved as the manic star of Carry On films & as a peerless raconteur on TV chat shows he was also acclaimed for serious stage roles. Born Brilliant will include much previously unseen material from Williamss candid daily journal & also draw on rare in-depth interviews with friends & colleagues. Since the publication of edited extracts from his diaries much controversy has surrounded Williamss personal & professional lives. This biography traces the complex contradictions that characterised an extraordinary life & presents the first full portrait of a star who was born brilliant. ...

'I'll put you in my diary!' comedian Kenneth Williams was known to threaten on occasion although tantalisingly he kept the journal to himself during his lifetime. Here at last in one spellbinding volume are four million words of it. For more than forty years from his sixteenth birthday until the eve of his unexpected death in 1988 the beloved actor & outrageous ' Carry On' star Kenneth Williams kept a candid diary. Devastatingly honest about himself he is equally unsparing in his verdicts on his fellow man. In his descriptions of Tony Hancock Maggie Smith Joe Orton & countless others his waspish sense of humour love of anecdote & ear for dialogue are given full rein. Malicious hilarious & harrowing ' The Kenneth Williams Diaries' are a unique portrait of one of Britain's most popular
- & most misunderstood
- performers.

...

Kenneth Noye is a criminal mastermind & millionaire. The man at the top of organised crime in Britain fled the country after the murder of young motorist Stephen Cameron on the M25. His extradition from Spain caused banner headlines across the country. This book contains sensational material that could never be published until now: information on Noyes criminal dealings the sinister truth of his life of crime. Bestselling investigative journalist Wensley Clarkson has penetrated the inner sanctum of Noyes closest family & criminal associates to paint a chilling portrait of a brilliant master criminal. Fully updated for the paperback Clarkson details exactly how Noye continues to control his extensive criminal empire from behind bars. ...

Reopened to the public in spring 2012 after major renovation Kensington Palace has been a royal residence for more than three centuries. Formerly a private house enlarged by Christopher Wren to suit the needs of William & Mary this nonetheless unpretentious property was the favoured home of five sovereigns until the mid-eighteenth century & during this period was restyled & decorated by some of England's greatest architects artists & designers. It was the birthplace & childhood home of Queen Victoria & towards the end of her reign she approved a pioneering restoration of the State Apartments. More recently Kensington was the home of Diana Princess of Wales during the last years of her life. This revised illustrated history published to mark the palace's latest transformation tells the fascinating story of the site recounting not only the architectural development of the building & the creation of its magnificent gardens but also the dramas & intrigues of court life. ...

A desert-island adventure & a subtle observation of friendship trust & humanity. Winner of The Childrens Book Award. Superbly read by DEREK JACOBI. When Michael is washed up on an island in the Pacific after falling from his parents yacht he struggles to survive on his own. He cant find food & he cant find water & as Michael & his dog curl up to sleep he knows they cannot last long. But he soon realises there is someone close by someone who is watching over him & helping him to stay alive. Following a close-run battle between life & death the mysterious stranger -- Kensuke -- allows Michael into his world & they become friends teaching & learning from each other until the day of separation becomes inevitable. ...

This is a classic story of love overcoming differences. 'I heard the wind above me in the sails. I remember thinking this is silly you haven't got your safety harness on you haven't got your lifejacket on. You shouldn't be doing this.. .I was in the cold of the sea before I could even open my mouth to scream.' Washed up on an island in the Pacific Michael struggles to survive on his own. With no food & no water he curls up to die. When he wakes there is a plate beside him of fish of fruit & a bowl of fresh water. He is not alone... One horse has the seen the best & the worst of humanity. The power of war & the beauty of peace. This is his story. ...

Walkers in Kent enjoy a number of long-distance footpaths including the North Downs Way Wealdway Pilgrims Way & Greensand Way & sections of them are incorporated into several walks in this guide. Routes starting at Tenterden & Penshurst wind through a typical Kentish landscape characterised by orchards medieval churches & oast houses. Deal & Sandwich featured on another walk were once centres for smugglers while walks along the cliffs of Dover & Folkestone evoke historic maritime events. In contrast Romney Marsh & the Swale have a wild & lonely beauty which evoke a more contemplative mood. ...

Walking is one of Britains favourite leisure activities & this guide features a variety of mapped walks to suit all abilities. The book features all the practical detail you need accompanied by fascinating background reading on the history & wildlife of Kent as well as other local points of interest. All walks are annotated with places to visit along the way including tea rooms & pubs with extra details on their character & the food on offer. Every walk is given a summary of distance time gradient level of difficulty type of surface & access landscape dog friendliness parking & public toilets. ...

Do motorists pick up a phantom hitchhiker on Blue Bell Hill during stormy nights? Does Satan appear if you dance round the Devils Bush in the village of Pluckley? Do big cats roam the local woods? & what happens if you manage to count the Countless Stones near Aylesford? For centuries strange urban legends have materialised in the Garden of Engl&. Now for the first time folklorist & monster-hunter Neil Arnold looks at these intriguing tales strips back the layers & reveals if there is more to these Chinese whispers than meets the eye. Folklore embeds itself into a local community often to the extent that some people believe all manner of mysteries & take them as fact. Whether theyre stories passed around the school playground through the internet or round a flickering campfire urban legends are everywhere. Kent Urban Legends is a quirky & downright spooky ride into the heart of Kent folklore. ...

Kent has one of the longest coastlines in Britain & was at the forefront of the growth of the British seaside industry from the eighteenth century onwards when sea bathing became fashionable. The Kent coast is within relatively easy access of London so a day trip to the coast became a great attraction for fashionable Londoners. For the most part transport to these fashionable new resorts was by ship but as some resorts did not have a harbour there was a problem getting passengers ashore. By the mid-nineteenth century the piers had become the most fashionable place to promenade in town. They quickly evolved into attractions in their own right with ornate pavilions containing all sorts of amusements as well as tearooms. Iconic emblems of the seaside experience & unique attractions the new seaside resorts fiercely contested to have the best showpiece pleasure pier. ...