Miles Hunt & Erica Nockalls with the Lives & Times Book

Earlier in the year I received this brilliant photo from Miles Hunt and Erica Nockalls from The Wonder Stuff with their copy of the Lives & Times fundraising book. I'd met and photographed them for the book a couple of years ago at their acoustic gig at The Railway Inn in Winchester. They were really lovely, and I got to spend a few minutes with them shortly before they went on stage. I got some terrific photos for the book. Miles thanked me for the kind words about them in the chapter in the book, but you will have to buy it to see exactly what I wrote for yourself 😊 I am now the proud owner of one of Erica's prints from her other job as an artist, and of Miles' book The Wonder Stuff Diaries '86-'89. Like so many people who so very kindly gave up their time to be photographed for the book, Miles & Erica were great sports, and posed with the Beating Bowel Cancer tie for the Facebook group that I am part of which is helping to raise awareness about bowel cancer.

Sadly my mother, the inspiration for doing the book, passed away in August 2016 following her long and courageous four and a half year battle with bowel cancer. She died just one week after her 80th birthday in a nursing home where she was receiving palliative care after the cancer spread to her brain.. Bowel cancer is the 2nd biggest cancer killer in the UK claiming 16,000 lives a year. However, if detected early it can be successfully treated in over 90% of such cases. Please support this fundraising book as every sale raises money for Beating Bowel Cancer, and helps to raise awareness about this horrible illness.

To see how you can purchase the Lives & Times charity book, which includes the chapter on Miles & Erica click here. All the proceeds raised are donated to Beating Bowel Cancer with over £3400 raised so far.

Lives & Times Fundraising Book Video

Lives & Times promotional video

In the last 18 months since its publication, the Lives & Times fundraising book has raised over £3000 for the Beating Bowel Charity. My mother was diagnosed with bowel cancer in 2012 and fought with great courage and dignity for over four years before passing away in August 2016. Bowel cancer is the second highest cancer killer in the UK, with 16,000 lives lost each year. If detected early it is one of the most treatable in over 90% of such cases. Raising awareness about bowel cancer is so important, and hopefully the book is playing a part in helping to do this.

The book contains photographs and recollections of my meetings with people from all walks of life. Everyone gave up their own time to support the project. Among those included are Katherine Grainger, Steve Redgrave, Gabby Logan, Lorraine Kelly, Gail Porter, Alan Davies, Matthew Wright, Christopher Biggins, Jonathan Agnew, Status Quo and The Stranglers. The latest promotional video shows some of the people I photographed.

The book is available as a hardback, paperback and ebook. My own www.bowelcancerfundraising.co.uk website is selling the book along with other items, including a very limited edition silk screen print created by artist Adam Green, with all proceeds raised donated to Beating Bowel Cancer.

Christopher Biggins in the Lives & Times Bowel Cancer Charity Book

I was delighted to meet with, the legend of stage and television, Christopher Biggins outside The Delaunay restaurant next to The Aldwych Theatre in London. Christopher lost his father to bowel cancer, which I was hadn't realised when I first approached him to be part of the book.

Biggins was a great sport having an extra photo taken with the Beating Bowel Cancer tie, and although time was short he couldn't have been more helpful. He was every bit as nice as you would have hoped from seeing him on the TV.

The Lives & Times charity book was published in November 2015, and it has so far raised just over £3250 for the Beating Bowel Cancer charity. My mother was diagnosed with bowel cancer in 2012. She fought this awful illness for over four years with great courage and dignity. The cancer finally spread to her brain and she passed away on August 29th, 2016. All proceeds raised from sales of the book, available on my www.bowelcancerfundraising.co.uk website, are donated to the charity.

Bowel cancer is the 2nd biggest cancer killer in the UK with 16,000 lives lost to it each year. If detected early it is very treatable in over 90% of cases. Raising awareness and improving early detection statistics is key to reducing the numbers of deaths.

Sir Steve Redgrave Supporting Beating Bowel Cancer Charity Book

I had the pleasure of meeting and photographing Sir Steve Redgrave for the Lives & Times charity book in the summer of 2014 on the banks of the River Thames in his home town of Marlow. This was a big moment in the book's development as sporting celebrities don't come any bigger than the man who won rowing gold at 5 consecutive Olympics.

In the chapter in the book I spoke to Steve about the local rowing clubs and the names we shared, as my father was a life long rowing man. We ended up talking for about half an hour and it was a brilliant experience for me, which hopefully comes across in the book. I got a great photo of him standing next to his own statue in Higginson Park.

Steve sent me this photo with his copy of the book. To see how you can buy a copy of the book click here. The book and the recent silk screen print have so far raised over £3250 for Beating Bowel Cancer.

My mother passed away in August 2016 after a 4 year battle with bowel cancer. Throughout she fought bravely and with great dignity. Bowel cancer claims 16,000 lives each year, but if detected early it is very treatable in over 90% of cases. Raising bowel cancer awareness is key, and hopefully the book is helping to do this, as well as raising funds for the charity.

Lives & Times Book Bundle Offer

Here is another great bundle offer that I have introduced on the bowelcancerfundraising website. I am now offering the paperback and hardback editions of Lives & Times books bundled together for £29.99. This is a saving of £5 on when purchased separately. 

The deluxe hardback edition would grace any coffee table and makes an ideal gift. The paperback copy is the perfect book for every day reading and for being able to dip in and out of it on your daily commute.  

I have been fundraising for the Beating Bowel Cancer charity since my Mum's first bowel operation 2012 and the website offers a range of items. All proceeds raised are donated to the charity. My Mum passed away in August 2016 after a brave and dignified battle with bowel cancer.

Meeting Tim Wheeler from Ash at Rough Trade East Record Store

Tim Wheeler from Ash wearing the bowel cancer tie at Rough Trade East

I met Tim Wheeler, lead singer of the band Ash, at the Rough Trade East Record Store on November 11th 2014. I was on a mission that day, with Tim being the 4th photo I did for the Lives & Times fundraising book. I walked to the shop from The Tower of London, where I'd been to see the poppy display which was pretty amazing. 

Tim was in the UK promoting his solo album, Lost Domain, a wonderful collection of songs he'd written in memory of his Dad who had sadly passed away from Dementia in 2011. He was really warm and interesting to talk and we sat down and chatted in the shop for half an hour or so. 

This was an interesting period in the writing of the book. When I met Tim my Mum had been in remission for 18 months and everything was so so positive. The following week we found out that the cancer had returned in the form of secondary cancer on her left lung. From then on the cancer never really let go, and Mum battled bravely on for the next two and a half years before passing away in August 2016. 

Since Lives & Times was published in November 2015, it has raised over £3250 for the Beating Bowel Cancer charity. I would highly recommend Tim's Lost Domain album, which is one of the most inspirational pieces of work I have heard in recent years.. It is my ambition to get my guitar out at some point and write some new songs, 

Bowel cancer is the second highest cancer killer in the UK claiming 16,000 lives each year. If detected early it can be treated in over 90% of cases. Much more needs to be done in raising awareness about this awful illness and start bringing those numbers down.