Pat and Roy were more than generous to us. We were never allowed to pass Malvern without calling for tea.

They loved to show off the Malvern Hills, taking us on guided tours in search of bluebell woods and green-winged orchids too.

We would receive postcards from their unusual holiday destinations - Cape Trafalgar and the islands of Ischia and Ushant.

Roy had just announced his retirement from writing. But there is one more book to come - the subject is Crimea.

Henry and Freda