WHEN a 13-year-old Bolton scout decided to write his own book, he was not joking.

And now Thomas Maloney has had his book — A Joke a day keeps the Doctor away! — published.

Thomas, of Milnthorpe Road, Breightmet, wants to raise £3,000 to go to Japan with the Raindrops ‘n’ Roses Jamboree Unit, a regional scout group made up of scouts and leaders from Greater Manchester North and East Lancashire.

He aims to travel to the Far East next year and has so far raised £1,400 — around £400 of which has come from sales of his book.

A Joke a day keeps the Doctor away! was published just before Christmas, and Thomas hopes it has been a welcome gift for many.

Thomas, who is a pupil at Bury Church of England High School, said: “I have always liked telling jokes in school and my friends always tell jokes, so I thought it was a good idea — it’s a once in a lifetime opportunity.

“I like the joy that people get from telling the jokes. If I can make other people laugh, I can make myself laugh.”

Thomas’s mother, Susan Mellon, an accounts clerk, aged 52, said: “I can’t tell you how proud I am of him. It’s phenomenal what he’s achieved.

“People think the book is really funny. All those who have bought and read Thomas’s book have been incredibly generous.”

If Thomas can raise the £3,000 required, he will represent the 14th Radcliffe Ainsworth Scout Group at the 23 World Scout Jamboree in Japan in 2015, where he will be joined by 30,000 other scouts from 162 countries.

The book can be bought for a minimum donation of £1, with all the money raised from sales going to Thomas’s Jamboree fund.

It is available at two Bolton town centre pubs — The Blue Boar in Deansgate and The Balmoral in Bradshawgate — and from the 14th Radcliffe Ainsworth Scout Group, or by e-mailing jamboree2015@ outlook.com

FIVE CHUCKLES WITH THOMAS

  • “Why did the spider buy a car? So he could take it out for a spin.”
  • “What dance can you see in the night sky? The moonwalk.”
  • “Where do Martians drink beer? At a Mars bar.”
  • “What animal hibernates standing on its head? Yoga Bear.”
  • “Why can’t Cinderella play soccer? Because she’s always running away from the ball.”