Members of the Horndean & District U3A met for their regular monthly meeting on Friday 4th August 2017 at Merchistoun Hall. They were entertained by Simon Brett a well known prolific local writer of whodunnits. The title of his talk was "Tickled to death being an author!"

Simon recounted some early memories with stories and anecdotes; like writing his own epitaph at 7 years old, keeping a diary from 9 years old, to learning lists of words and their definitions. He was obviously a talented scholar having won a free place at Dulwich College and was awarded a Major Scholarship in History at Wadham College where in 1967 he obtained a First Class Honours degree in English.

His first job at 22 years old, for just seven weeks, after leaving Oxford was to be dressed up as Father Christmas in the grotto at Shinners of Sutton. He still remembers how hot it was in the costume and the Christmas songs played relentlessly on a loop which became extremely boring!

In January of 1968 Simon was offered a one year contract in radio with the BBC. He went on to produce programmes and writing scripts for well known and loved programmes like "After Henry" the Prunella Scales series, Just a Minute, I Haven't a Clue and the Burkiss Way among others. He also worked on Late Night Extra with Terry Wogan and with Alfred Marks, Ted Ray and Harry Worth, Frank Muir, Barry Cryer et al. When Simon recounted stories and anecdotes from his life at the BBC he had the Members in stiches.

Following Simon leaving London Weekend in 1979 he has concentrated on writing books. He has mainly written crime novels (Charles Paris, Mrs Pargeter, Fethering and Blotto & Twinks) and many one-offs, some of which have become feature films. He has also written for the theatre too and been involved in various writers' organisations. Simon recounted some of the very amusing oxymorons from his 100th publication, A Modern Book of Oxymorons. He has written 19 "Charles Parish" crime novels and is pleased that it is now back on the radio with Bill Nighy as Charles Parish.

In 1981 Simon and his wife Lucy moved to Burpham near Arundel where his family have grown up. They love it there.

Simon was very honoured to be awarded an OBE in 2016 for services to literature, around the same time he was elected a Fellow of the Royal Society of Literature. In 2014 he was presented with the CWA Diamond Dagger, one of the highest accolades in the crime writing world. He is the current president of the Detection Club.

Simon really did "tickle" his audience with his humorous recounting of his life as a writer. It was hilarious and very much enjoyed by all.

Diane Stoner

Speaker Coordinator