John Nichol Book Launch

John will be joined by 99-year-old Millie Matthews, a major contributor to his book and one of the last survivors of the notorious bombing of the Wilkinson’s Lemonade Factory in May 1941 when 107 North Shields’ residents perished.

BLITZ tells the story of the ‘provincial blitz’ which caused thousands of deaths across the nation, targeting cities like Newcastle, Glasgow, Liverpool, and Bristol. Returning to his childhood home in North Shields, John uncovered his mother’s experience and memories from people in Tyneside, including 99-year-old Millie Matthews, who survived the bombing of the Wilkinson Lemonade Factory.

John grew up in North Shields and joined the Royal Air Force in 1981. On active duty during the first Gulf War his Tornado bomber was shot down during a mission over Iraq. Captured and tortured, he was paraded on television, provoking worldwide condemnation and leaving one of the most enduring images of the conflict. Since leaving the RAF, John has written a number of Sunday Times Bestsellers; BLITZ is his twentieth book

Join John in conversation with local historian Dan Jackson, to share stories from this nationwide struggle that shaped the course of the war and the spirit of a generation.