Pursued by Bishops....

Edwin Apps was at Mr. Books for a book signing event last Saturday and he was a lovely chap. He's 82 now and has been living in France for nearly forty years but once upon a time people used to recognize him and wave from the bus as he wandered down Piccadilly or Shaftesbury Avenue. In the 1950s and 60s he was a well known face on TV and in the theatre. His main claim to fame is his TV comedy creation, All Gas And Gaiters, which was a sit com based in a Cathedral. Edwin is now an artist and was over in Tonbridge for an exhibition which was held in the Parish Church and Tygers Head, the Tudor house down Church Lane. Appropriate venues really when you consider that the theme of the exhibition and indeed the title of Mr. Apps' autobiography was Pursued By Bishops. It was great to meet Edwin, his lovely partner, Josette, and his publisher Patrick who visited my shop I think every day last week and became one of my best customers! I was so impressed with Edwin's art that I even treated myself to one of them, although not a bishop inspired painting. Well it was my birthday last week! At the book signing he didn't just sign the books he even went as far as drawing some random pictures of mad pursuing bishops in some of them. He really is a man obsessed, or possessed! I have a few copies left in Mr. Books should anyone feel the urge to own one....