Programme to watch about radar

To be broadcast on BBC 2 on 4 September 2014

Castles in the Sky 

Factual drama about the fight to invent Radar by Scotsman Robert Watson Watt (Eddie Izzard) and a team of unproven and unknown British scientists.

The factual drama conveys the genuine human drama - of determination and genius versus establishment prejudice - behind the invention which was to prove decisive in the Battle of Britain.
Watson Watt’s ambition was initially dismissed by the Oxbridge-dominated establishment including Winston Churchill as “Castles in the Sky” while he and his fellow scientists, who were his meteorologist colleagues, were disregarded as a bunch of “weather men” from provincial universities. Yet they continued to strive to achieve their dreams against all odds, to the detriment of their personal lives and at the cost of some of their marriages.
Izzard comments: "I feel very privileged to be playing the role of Robert Watson Watt. Hopefully our production will allow him, along with Skip Wilkins and their team to finally take their places in the pantheon of British greats of World War Two, as the inventors of Radar. Without Radar the Nazis would probably have been able to invade and occupy our country. So the future of the free world may well have been saved by these unlikely men and their brilliant work leading up to the Battle of Britain. Their names are not famous - that is a mistake Britain must rectify. This is their story.”
Producer Simon Wheeler explains why he decided to put the film together: “The time is right for a contemporary approach to this rich and under-reported vein of British history – it's not like other war stories - if anything it’s more akin to a combination of The Social Network and Chariots Of Fire than The Dambusters or Reach For The Skies.

It’s an important story about a bunch of men who realised that their seemingly crackpot ideas and incredibly hard work could save the nation – and its poignancy and meaning still resonate today.”

       Follow My Dreams | My Life and Times

     ARTHUR IVOR LLEWELYN

    Completed by Dr Miranda Andrews

                       Book launched on 10 May 2014

                       Available from IBA Books @£30

                       ISBN 978-0-9928071-0-8

                       

    for orders email: followmydreams@followmydreams.co.uk

Reviews

Ian on Amazon website:

"Part autobiography, part biography, the life and times of Arthur Llewelyn is billed as a ‘disarmingly frank account’. The book is essential reading for anyone interested in the development of radar during WWII (Airborne Interception and Automatic Gun Laying Turret). I was familiar with some of Arthur’s radar work with bomber command but knew less about his activities during the Cold War, including regular penetration of Russian air space to test their radar capabilities. For broader historians of that era there are interesting asides about events such as Suez, Anthony Wedgewood Benn’s “white heat” science and technology revolution, plus detailed descriptions of ‘Yes Minister’ style civil service machinations and Mandarin feet dragging with respect the introduction of new technology. Arthur was Scientific Advisor to NATO in Fontainebleau from 1960-1965. He then embarked on a 25 year career in the emerging computer-aided design industry. The picture that emerges is that of a highly intelligent and driven man, who could foster teamwork, but did not suffer fools gladly... and who on occasion could be his own worst enemy. He nevertheless achieved much in several key areas of 20th Century technological development. Hints here and there about Arthur’s personal life show he could be anything other than the archetypal boffin – at times quite the lad!"

  

Melrose Books

"This book is a pleasure to read, particularly the relationships between Arthur and the famous people he met through his lifetime. The intimate relationship he formed with Jo is beautifully conveyed through letters...a vivid account what times were like in WW2...his use of solitude."

Pen and Sword Books

"Arthur's book provides a great deal of fascinating insight, as well as uncovering a number of potentially controversial facts

concerning the bombing of Dresden and maked for quite intriguing reading."

GOOD NEWS ABOUT THE BOOK

The book is finished at long last.

The final hurdle was to compile the index which a professional undertook for me and it required two months to complete. Thanks to Sarah's brilliant efforts together with a pleasing cover design, not to mention Geoff's unstinting corrections, ad nauseum, the proof the book has now been OK'd for printing.

This final process has taken from Christmas to Easter.

I was finally able to relax and enjoy some sun whereupon I caught a stinking cold and that ruined Easter plans.

I shall now be concentrating on promoting the book and catching up on all my other jobs.

In March I was invited to speak about Arthur Llewelyn's work 

at the North Lincolnshire Air Crew Branch where I met some fascinating men who had all been involved in the RAF in WW2 or after and who seemed to appreciate my talk. In turn I also got a lot of feedback about life at the sharp end using the radar that Arthur worked on to help fight the Germans from the Air.

One ex RAF pilot had very bravely flown Spitfires, along the French coast, stripped of the guns and fitted with cameras to carry out reconnaissance. It was no good landing on enemy soil or he would never have flown off again without a generator to start the plane. 

"Was I afraid, oh yes, but once airborne I stopped feeling shaky - there was too much to concentrate on!" 

"You deserved a medal." 

"Not really, loads of other people did what I did." Alec modestly said.

I also stopped by at RAF Coningsby to visit the Battle of Britain Flight and had a tour all by myself.

My sister and I also met up with Rex Sanders who remembered my father taking the radar equipment to bits and modifying it, to the amazement of the USAF air crew at RAF Wyton.

The book is due to be released on 10 May 2014

For orders email: followmydreams@followmydreams.co.uk

2014 Happy New Year 2014

Latest update

The first proof has been corrected and is with the printer.

Hopefully the book will be printed in January 2014.

There will be an initial print run of 300 hard copies numbered and signed so be sure an order your copy at the special price of £22. 

FOLLOW MY DREAMS

My Life and Times

ARTHUR IVOR LLEWELYN

completed by MIRANDA ANDREWS

I have just discovered a famous author in our extended family: one Professor John Llewelyn a famous philosopher who had recently published a book called Depart from Logic, Return to Wales available on Amazon; so I am in good company.

Towards the finish

Hello again my loyal followers, I thought I'd startle you with some purple prose.

I have a few good tidings to share with you.

The copy editor has reached the end of my book bless her. Now it is up to me to finalise the text and decide on the final chapter headings since we have created an additional two chapters as Chapter 2 was too long.

Then all I have left to do is complete the Index, Glossary of acronyms and References.( No pressure!) 

I visited the Public Records Office now referred to as the National Archives last week and finally saw files and papers written by Arthur Llewelyn at Bomber Command, one of which was originally closed until 2029 but thankfully was opened in 2010. It was chillingly matter-of-fact to read about Arthur's recommendations for adaptions to the THOR nuclear missile and also veiled references to training over terrain like Canada which has similarities to Russia for practising radar photography before the Russian over flights. Also tantalising to find some inserted notes to indicate that the files have been temporarily removed - signed by Arthur!


Report of USA trip in 1959

Hurray!

Yes, finally, Tony Benn rang me last Sunday to say he had read through Chapter 5 on the Mintech years and he had no objections. He said it all rang very true! He remembered the occasions very well. He also said that Arthur made a major contribution to the development and use of computers. "We travelled to

Moscow together to talk to the Russians and he made a significant impact there too."

 

I can sense now it will be a question of knowing when to stop checking.....

Back soon, Miranda

Good News

What progress since the week-end.
I have now reviewed the edits of four Chapters with the second Chapter in itself becoming divided into several new Chapters. Now I feel progress is being made towards the publishing stage.

Copy editing in progress

Hello again.
I am now ploughing through the suggestions from my copy editor who has completed the first two chapters.

I had no idea how much details would be involved: commas, speech marks, spellings and my bête noir of when to use 'that' and 'which'. Also being consistent with names so the reader knows who you are talking about.

Having completed the exercise of researching and writing the book I thought I was on the home straight to getting published. Sometimes I think the book will never be finished.

It would be so lovely if I received some encouraging comments from the internet out there but I shall keep ploughing on in my lonely furrow. I did receive a very nice email from a publisher who wanted to publish the book for a fee and she was very kind and said it was worthy of publication and wished me
luck. No doubt she thought I was mad or brave to go it alone.

As Autumn evenings arrive it feels as if there is never enough time to do everything in a day. Then I am reminded what a dear friend and neighbour used to say. 'Everyone has the same amount of time it depends how you use it'.

I shall need to have my eyes checked after all this tracking changes on the screen.

That's all for today
Miranda

Telecommunications Flying Unit (TFU)

Croombe Park

I was delighted to be able to attend Saturday 14 September's Defford Airfield Heritage Weekend even though the actual airfield is outside Croome Park limits.

I met several of the staunch supporters of the Defford Airfield Heritage Group deffordairfieldheritagegroup.wordpress.com who mounted a very interesting display and also members of the Malvern Radar and Technology History Society wiki.mraths.org.uk
 who thanks to Hugh Williams and co. had mounted an extremely fact-packed display of the history of airborne radar in WW2 that was so relevant to Arthur's work at TRE. (Telecommunications Radar Establishment was based at Malvern 1942 onwards.)

I was very disappointed not to meet anyone who knew Arthur personally from TFU or TRE, although this was perhaps not surprising as most Boffins from that era would 90+ years old. I did meet two sisters who were starting on their journey to research what their father did during the war. He had been a draughtsman at Malvern TRE in a drawing office so could have known my father. Like my father he had not talked to his daughters about what he did during the war - much of which was classified then of course. Several people at the Croombe event gave me the impression that the Boffins kept to themselves and only appeared when they wanted something put in a plane and tested. Of course groups did keep to themselves except when they reached out for others' expertise and people did not talk about what they were doing in general. I also met a very interesting guy called Mr Griffiths, who was the son of one the Commanding Officers at TFU during WW2, and  claimed his father was responsible for raising moral by encouraging sports etc.

There was a map and a model in the old RAF sick quarters showing how the TFU had been laid out around the Airfield. Now not much is visible and most of the old building and the Mess are gone.

It was a pleasure to see the flypast of the Red Arrows who opened the event and then, at three o'clock, the magnificent roar and black silhouette of the only flightworthy Lancaster Bomber with the Malvern Hills in the background. The highlight of the day.

I completed my day by visiting the memorial in Defford village  to men who lost their lives flying from Defford WW2.



I had two new orders for a copy of my book this week. That's it for today. Thanks for reading my blog.

 

Subscriptions

Hello followers. I am building a subscription list (advance orders) for my book. Friends and family are approaching me directly but you can order the book via the website.

I will be printing 300 hard-backed, signed and numbered copies of which 10 will be reserved for copyright and other essential purposes but the other 290 will be offered at a special price before the print run to encourage those people who are eagerly awaiting their copy to book early and secure a copy.

The first 10 copies are sold.

The dust jacket design is looking good and the first chapter has been edited, so finally I am feel there is a book coming out at the end of the process. Hurray.

Watch this blog for more news.

Countdown

It has been a busy period for me as I have decided to self-publish. I can't wait any longer for others to decide. At least when you self-publish: you are in control.

I have instructed my copy editor Ting to start editing the manuscript and the printer Geoff to start on the dust jacket design.

I have put all 34 photographs and 4 diagrams into a separate file, for the printer to check the quality.

I regret spending so much time designing the layout of the book as it will all be changed anyway in the typesetting. The editing will be done chapter by chapter so I could have kept these separate as well and the files would be easier to email. 

'We Transfer'  is an excellent service (free) for sending large files - thanks Ian.

My tasks will be to complete the appendices i.e. the Index and the references and the glossary and acronyms  - the page numbers will be inserted at a later date when known after the final proof is ready.

My printer does not like footnotes and I have loads of these but I hate going to the back and searching for the note when I read a book, so I shall be firm on this.

I am going to have 300 numbered, signed, hard-backed copies printed and these can be ordered in advance for a special price - see website for more details at http://followmydreams.co.uk

As was pointed out to me: most of Arthur's contemporaries are quite old now, if still alive, but I am hoping that Tony Benn, who has been unwell, might manage to read the relevant chapter 5 and make some comments. There is a lovely story about a trade mission to Russia when Arthur accompanied Tony Benn and others.

That's all for now!

Hello, welcome to my publishing tale 

After reading this 'blog' why not leave a comment or two!
Tell me what you would like to know about getting published.
 
Have you followed the link to the book's website?
http://followmydreams.co.uk
Please ask questions about the subject matter. Would you like to read some extracts?

Perhaps you are an author of a biography or are writing your autobiography.
Share your journey of writing or publishing.

Maybe you are a publisher reading this. Why not add some comments about what you look for in your biographies?

I would love to hear from you. RSVP

Dilemma

How to describe this book?
I have written this book in the first person using Arthur's words. Is it an autobiography or a biography?
Is there a better description? Arthur's own account.

Reader's comments:

"At first I was expecting a biography written by Miranda but it was an autobiography!"

"it is written like a professional biography. It is well written, edited and polished."

 "A fascinating insight into the life of Arthur Llewelyn. The memories described were very vivid and odd things reminded me of my younger days(like the £5 fine for pulling the communications cord). The writing was clear and I enjoyed the chapters I read although personally shorter chapters are always preferred!"

"I completed the first chapter from where Ivor's Boy is born right through to where he makes the biggest decision of his life to break away from that which everyone else did in Wales. He started studying the sciences. There were a few tongue-in-cheek moments - I particularly liked the breastfeeding episode on the train, which fascinated young Arthur, but he quickly found looking at the cows in the meadows more interesting! "

"A great deal of fascinating insight, as well as uncovering a number of potentially controversial facts concerning the bombing of Dresden"

"The book is a pleasure to read, particularly the relationships between Arthur and the people he met throughout his lifetime. The intimate relationship he formed with Joan is beautifully conveyed through letters and it is satisfying to watch their relationship blossom over 59 years, through difficult times and across continents."

"A fascinating account from the pint of view of both social and technological history"

"the way Arthur took the USAF's radar recce system by the scruff of its neck and improved it thousand fold was an enormous credit to him"

"a complex; highly intelligent; man of vision; years ahead of his time; self disciplined; independent; able to compartmentalise his career, his private life and his family"

"one of the father's of the Cambridge phenomenon"

Progress towards publishing.

Option 1. My manuscript is now definitely with a publisher for a read through.

Option 2. I went to see a large printer group in Wiltshire where I talked through the preparation for, litho printed, sewn book and actually walked round the factory to see the process at work, also compared with the digital option.

I understand much better now what's involved and what deadlines to work to. The place gave me a good buzz and afterwards I walked through the offices were loads of people working and dealing with the client side. I would be assigned someone to look after my book and liaise with me.

It was made clear to me that it did not matter what font style I use as it will be changed for a book type face and also how I lay it out in Royale size will also be changed. All my footnotes will have to be stripped out and also the photos and diagrams even though I am putting them in with the text. I also need 100gsm coated paper to do this. I now have the margins and layout size of the dust jacket so I can rough something up but the printer will design it for me.

I need to get my ISBN numbers ordered and with a batch of 10 the printer suggested I start thinking of my next book! When we talked I found I had 2 new book ideas already. I'll need an ISBN per edition, one for a hard back, one for a ebook which the printer can organise too. It is nice to feel in control. If I want spaces between paragraphs as I am doing here I need to hit the return key twice otherwise all double spacing will be ignored.

Is anything reading this? Oh and an index, has to be left till all the text is edited and proof read and then I will do it by hand. I am also planning a Glossary of acronyms and abbreviations.

That's enough for today.

Influences and big issues.

It turns out there is more to connect Arthur with Doug than I first thought.
Doug was finishing his degree in electronics in 1945 when he was called up. He had chosen to study electronics at Oregon University because he was fascinated by radar and the secrecy that surrounded it during wartime. So he joined the Navy to train as an engineer technician. He sailed for the Philippines just as Japan surrendered. It was there in a thatched library he read about the concept of setting goals and working on big problems to assist mankind.

Doug's career was centred on collective intelligence via the interactive computer. He was 20 years ahead of his time.
"Douglas Engelbart never really gets credit for the larger contribution that he worked to create: an integrative and comprehensive framework that ties together the technological and social aspects of personal computing technology."
He was a new kind of person. This resonates so well with Arthur.

Arthur once said" he was concerned that certain parts of the world were progressing rapidly and becoming richer. These parts may become greedy and full of fear. The other parts of the world are caught in the spiral of hunger and poverty. He wished and hoped that people like us would balance the world."

Anyhow I wanted to share these thoughts because we are in a very serious place in the world's history - our politicians do not know how to handle the problems we face example: by 2017 official figures show we will have to find £70 billion just to pay the interest on the National Debt the equivalent of today's budget for Defence and Education put together. WHOW. 

'Follow My Dreams My Life & Times Arthur Ivor Llewelyn'

 

copyright Miranda Andrews 2013

I thought I had sent my manuscript to the publishers via a "send large files" service as at 13.8MB it is too large to send by email.
When I received an email from the publisher saying they were still waiting to receive the manuscript I at first thought that meant back from the editor; then I thought OMG perhaps they never received it in the first place. It always pays to check and check again.

'Follow My Dreams'

To check out the book follow the link below

http://followmydreams.co.uk 

Christina's video

R.I.P.

Christina's video, about her now late father's (Doug Engelbart) vision, is 39 mins long and well worth watching.
http://bcove.me/9dfr3p56

His vision and radical approach took years to be recognised - he was even advised to keep his ideas under wraps in case he got fired; his greatest breakthrough innovation, according to Christina, was improving the human condition to unleash the human potential to solving the world's problems.

Politicians take note!

Another famous visionary
Like Arthur, Douglas was years ahead of his time. I wonder if Arthur knew him. I am going to try and find out. His daughter Christina has written a biography about him.

Douglas Engelbart born on a farm outside Portland Oregon; a radar technician during WW2 in the US Navy he invented the first version of the computer mouse in the 60’s that was not widely used until the 60’s when the patent had run out died aged 88 on 3rd July 2013.

Among Engelbart's other key developments, along with his colleagues at the Stanford Research Institute and his own lab, the Augmentation Research Centre, was the use of multiple windows. Engelbart's lab also helped develop ARPANet, the government research network that led to the internet.

As a graduate student in electrical engineering at UC Berkeley after World War II Doug Engelbart began to imagine ways in which all sorts of information could be displayed on the screens of cathode ray tubes like the ones he had used as a radar technician during the war, and he dreamed of "flying" through a variety of information spaces.

At the heart of this vision was the computer as an extension of human communication capabilities and resource for the augmentation of human intellect.
http://www.dougengelbart.org/vision/paradigm-map.html
http://www.ibiblio.org/pioneers/englebart.html

Believe in yourself.

I recently went to a great book event called 'Way With Words' down in Devon at a place called Dartington Hall. It was very well organised. A three week event I dipped into for two days and listened to about a dozen excellent speakers who had written biographies, or novels, and I learned a lot. I also met some very interesting people in the audiences many of whom where attending this event for the 19th year. One comment really set me thinking "who is going to read your book?" Incidentally a good tip for authors, as they really look after you at Dartington.www.wayswithwords.co.uk

Returning mentally invigorated I know have reached a bit of a down period except that I was delighted that Tony Benn has agreed to read the Chapter about Mintech in which he features as my Dad worked with him and went to Russia on a trade mission.

So I need to pep myself up and I am reminded of something my Dad once wrote to me when he was encouraging me to persevere "The easy way has not been my way nor will it be yours".

For a girl born on a Saturday I know I have to work hard for my living!

So to all you writers out there: keep persevering.