Mystery thriller puts Wolverhampton on the map
A killer is roaming the corridors of New Cross Hospital, trying to find the ward where a man is recovering from a gun shot wound. The patient is being protected by the police, but this is no ordinary killer and he needs to finish the job. I have used New Cross hospital as a location because I have always felt that films, TV and novels miss us Wulfrunians out. So for once I've addressed this with a couple of chapters in my book set in our area - writes author Ray Palmer.
It has been quite a long time ago now, but back in the summer of 1971, I was a Parachute Regiment soldier serving in Belfast.
I had left my hometown of Wolverhampton, in the West Midlands in 1968, aged just 15, and now, my new home consisted of barracks in Aldershot.
In 1969, the unrest in Northern Ireland had prompted the government to send troops there. It was only a matter of time that I would be sent there, but first, I had a 12 month course in London to attend.
Belfast ’71: I was one of the youngest soldiers in the unit, and after my constant grumbling of being stuck inside, my superiors finally agreed that I could go out on an evening patrol.
I was fed up of being cooped up in the mill (our lovely accommodation) and missing out on all the action, but the boss had my best interest at heart as I was the youngest, although I didn’t agree with him.
Finally, on my very first patrol after about an hour just off the Falls Road, a shot was fired by the patrol commander. He gave a warning before he fired, and the round never hit the commander's target. That was the baptism of my first patrol, and now many years later that true incident has now inspired me to write the following story.
I pondered on a ‘What if’... What if a patrol made a serious error? ... What could happen if it was covered up? ... And what would happen when the police discover a body years later?
The story ‘Rogue Patrol’ reflects such a scenario, resulting in a can of worms being opened of huge proportions and someone is trying to put a lid on it; suppressing it at all costs.
The investigation spreads further afield, when the police in the UK mainland are dragged into it, culminating it into a dramatic conclusion.
My book has got off to a flying start in it's first 3 weeks with 6 five star reviews on Amazon. One reader, a former Wulfrunian has received his copy in New Zealand. He went there in the 1960s and still treasures his Wolverhampton roots.
I was born in a colliery house at Westcroft in 1952 and attended Long Knowle, Woden Avenue and lastly March End Secondary schools. My father worked at Hilton Main colliery, 15 mins walk away, and my mother had opened up a hairdressers above the post office in Wednesfield with her business partner, Dot. In later years, she became manageress of Littlewoods in Dudley Street and also a town magistrate.
On leaving the army after a number of small jobs I found my way into the music trade. Sales, tuition, performing, then TV supporting roles. In 1993 I established my own music business in Ashmore Park, Wednesfield. It was there I achieved a musical world record; the longest sustained note on a brass/woodwind instrument at 1 min 13 sec. Five years ago I made the front page of the Express and Star with a Wolves song with a melody I had written years before. I am fortunate that I have remained fit despite football injuries and no mishaps jumping out of C130 aircrafts at 800feet. So to relax, there's nothing better than a weekly game of football with a bunch of lads at Pulse in Wednesbury. I'm surprised that they let an old 'un like me tag on. But that's life, I started with the lads, and I'm finishing with the lads.
