Best-selling author holds interview events to raise cash for old soldiers

INTERNATIONAL best-selling author Jack Higgins, known for major titles such as The Eagle Has Landed and A Prayer for the Dying, is hosting two special charity evenings.
Jack Higgins will be talking with celebrity interviewer Ian Haydn Smith and discussing his life, books and filmsJack Higgins will be talking with celebrity interviewer Ian Haydn Smith and discussing his life, books and films
Jack Higgins will be talking with celebrity interviewer Ian Haydn Smith and discussing his life, books and films

Mr Higgins will be talking with celebrity interviewer Ian Haydn Smith and discussing his life, books and films.

There will also be readings, film clips and a question and answer session, followed by a book signing.

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The first event will take place at the Connaught Studio, in Union Place, Worthing, on Monday, February 15, from 7pm to 9pm, in aid of the Queen Alexandra Hospital Home in Worthing, which cares for physically disabled ex-servicemen and women.

Tickets are £20 and £25, from the fundraising office on 01903 218444, open 9am to 5pm, Monday to Friday, or online via the hospital home at www.qahh.org.uk/donate/shop.

The second event will be at Chequer Mead Community Arts Centre in East Grinstead on Tuesday, February 16, in aid of ABF The Soldier’s Charity, which provides financial and practical support to soldiers and their families.

Tickets for this are available from the box office at Chequer Mead on 01342 302000.

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Harry Patterson, who writes under the principal pseudonym Jack Higgins and other names, explained: “I have been writing about soldiering in one form or another for most of my career.

“I come from a family of soldiers – my grandfather having been awarded the Military Medal for Bravery in the field in 1919, and my uncle fought Rommel’s 7th Panzers outside Arras, was wounded, and was a prisoner of war, escaping four times.

“Through my family and my own military experiences in the 1940s, I know how much soldiers go through and what they sacrifice.

“That is why I am very happy to support both The Queen Alexandra Hospital Home and ABF The Soldiers Charity at my two events and to raise money for such vital charities who support our armed forces veterans.”

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Elizabeth Baxter, head of fundraising and marketing at the hospital home, said: “All at the Queen Alexandra Hospital Home are delighted that such a well-known and well-respected author as Jack Higgins is coming all the way from his home in the Channel Islands to raise money for two charities that support our veterans.

“It is so kind of him to undertake these two events, which we know will be popular as he has so many fans and is so well read. This is a remarkable opportunity for the two charities and the money raised will be very well spent on those ex-servicemen and women in our care.”

Eleven of Mr Higgins’ books have been made into films or television films, the most successful being The Eagle Has Landed, starring Michael Caine and Donald Sutherland, and A Prayer for the Dying, starring Bob Hoskins and Mickey Rourke.

Jack Higgins has also written under the names of James Graham, Martin Fallon, and Hugh Marlowe. His 84 novels in total have sold over 150 million copies worldwide and have been translated into 55 languages.

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