Larkin's Barkin'

Chapter 2

The crumpet script was written by Colin Merrin, an East End lad himself and now, an exceptional artist painting in Portsmouth. Colin has told me since that the idea was inspired by an East End of London myth about a Stepney young man who did not return from WW1, and his mum, who ran a pub, made buns (not crumpets) on his birthday every year until she died. True or not, this myth was a great catalyst for this my ninth book, and I dedicate it to Colin Merrin.

The painting is of his Grandmother, Great Grandmother, and Uncle - the coincidence of East End matriarchs, with a boy between, was too much to ignore, even if the narrative bears no resemblance.

1916 by Colin Merrin

1916 by Colin Merrin