Letters Home Book

Brian Johnston was one of Britain's best loved broadcasters for close to 50 years. By the time of his death in 1994 he had officially become, along with The Queen Mother and Red Rum, a national treasure. This collection of letters, written to his mother from his time as a boy at Eton in the 1920s right through until he was demobbed after World War II in 1945, will do nothing to diminish that elevated status. The collection is edited by Johnston's son Barry and the voice that comes off the page is very much the same as the one that captivated listeners to his broadcasting. Gentle, caring, and full of fun, there is even the early indications of his love of nicknames - a colleague named David Silvertop is called "Goldbottom" throughout. As a social history of upper-class life in the first half of the 20th century - after Eton Johnston went into the family coffee business working both in Brazil and in the City - this is an interesting read. But as a glimpse of the man behind the broadcaster it is a joy, mostly because it confirms what so many of his admirers had long hoped and believed; that on or off-air, Brian Johnston was a wonderful human being. --Nick WroeRead More