Since leaving the forces, Bob Pitt has published his debut novel, which came out in January of this year and he is currently working on his second book. Today he tells us a little bit about himself to mark the release of Howerton.
Bob Pitt
I was brought up in pubs, in the Midlands. My grandfather was a publican and my father was for a number of years. Dad was often getting called to stand in as a relief publican, when the owners took a holiday or needed time off. I used to help, tapping barrels in the cellar, collecting glasses, it would not be allowed nowadays.
I’m an only child. My brother Tim died in infancy. I’ve had a best friend for 55 years and I consider him my brother, his name is Chris and he lives in Wales, we keep in touch.
I joined the army in 1973 for idealistic reasons, I did not like what was going on in Northern Ireland. In my service in Cyprus in 1974, I was there when the Turks invaded, and in deployments since then, I learned a lot about my fellow human beings, friends as well as enemies.
I left the army in 1985 to get married, and was subsequently co-opted into the wife’s family business. Sally would have made a terrible army wife, she was too free minded. We lived in Frome in Somerset, although Sally was from Bowness on Windermere. We made sterling silver photo frames and gifts. I became workshop manager and went on to self-train as a silversmith.
Sally sadly died too young at the age of 48. I was devastated. Becoming widowed at 52 was so very hard, I don’t have the words to describe it.
After being alone for eight years I met a Hungarian woman called Klara. We were working at a hotel here in the Lake District. We got on from our first meeting and we hope to get married soon. Another life lesson learned, NEVER say never.
I love hills and mountains, always have, always will. Fortunately Klara likes them too, so we walk in the hills as often as time and weather permits.
My favourite book is Dune, by Frank Herbert. I took the book on a flight to Canada in 1977 and read it with just a couple of breaks for food and coffee.
I still keep in touch with my old comrades from the regiment. I use social media, I was contacted by someone I had not seen in thirty years and we took up the conversation as if we had left off a day ago!
A writer, me? I wrote this book over several years. When I was instructing cadets, lads and lasses aged 12 years old and up. It came to my attention that a lot of them had never read a book voluntarily, some could not read at all. I used to ask why, and was told they were sick of what was on the market, magic, vampires, girly stuff, they said. Howerton is my tiny contribution to juvenile literacy, I hope it reaches some of these young people, I think reading opens up so many opportunities and stimulates imagination.
