A BOLTON accountant who was a Prisoner of War in Hong Kong has just published a book which he wrote in captivity.

But - contrary to what you might expect, the stories and poems are very funny.

Cedric Brown, from Shrewsbury Road in Heaton, joined the Royal Navy Volunteer Reserve in 1938 and was taken prisoner by the Japanese on Christmas Day 1941 until his release in 1945.

The now 85-year-old spent time in three camps, where he wrote the poems for his book "Serendipity" by hand. The stories in the book were type-written using a Remington portable, as were the diaries he kept, copies of which are now at the Hong Kong Museum of History.

A former Bolton School pupil, the brave serviceman retired from the National Navy Volunteer Reserve in 1958, and from his profession at a Manchester accountancy firm as a partner in 1984.

"Serendipity" is for sale at the RNLI, with all proceeds going to the charity, thanks to Mr Brown. Ring Bev Robinson at the regional office on 0161-787-8779 for details.

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