Brixton to Buckingham Palace

This book traces the rich and varied life of Russell Stannard from his humble beginnings to an invitation to take lunch with The Queen, Prince Philip, and the corgis, because, as he was told, 'Her Majesty, from time to time, likes to take lunch with interesting people.' His story is told in 86 short chapters - a collection of snapshots. Examples include: Working the main scoreboard at the Oval cricket ground; Creating new matter at the largest particle accelerator in the world; Giving a talk to 35 murderers; Getting electrocuted; Running a study day for one hundred bishops of the Church of England; Falling off a cliff while trying to rescue two girls who had got into difficulties; Off-the-cuff preaching to a congregation of 20 million, not counting the drive-in worshippers; Writing a children's introduction to quantum physics which became the Number 1 adult best-seller; Helping to set up the Open University; Having to share bathroom facilities with the assistant hangman at Wandsworth Prison; Playing football with a Premier League striker; Experiencing the agony of having the body trying to eat itself; Making use of Freud's couch; Becoming a billionaire - almost; As a tourist, having the Parthenon in Athens and Jerusalem to oneself; Visiting Number 10; Getting grilled by Jeremy Paxman on Newsnight; Confrontations with Richard Dawkins; Being locked up in solitary confinement at the Royal Institution; Sleeping in John Wayne's aircraft hangar; Being an evacuee in World War II; Living the life of the Raj; Coping with 16 grandchildren; Creating large sculptures, etc.