New book of Miles Kington's writings

The widow of much-loved writer Miles Kington will introduce a new compilation of his writing in Bath next week.

The humourist from Limpley Stoke died last year at the age of 66 from pancreatic cancer.

After his death, his wife Caroline ensured that a book he had been writing - How Shall I Tell The Dog? - was published posthumously last year.

Now she has collected what are described Mr Kington's funniest writings for the new book, The Best By Miles.

It will be launched at an event organised by bookshop Mr B's Emporium of Books on Monday.

At the launch at the BRLSI in Queen Square at 7pm, there will be readings from the book, the introduction to which has been written by actress Joanna Lumley, who was a close friend.

The readings will be by two more of Mr Kingston's friends - comedian and author Dr Phil Hammond and actress Stephanie Cole - and his stepdaughter, actress Isabel Brook.

In an article written for the Chronicle's website www.thisisbath.co.uk Mrs Kington reveals the high standard her husband - who wrote a daily column for the Independent - applied to all his work.

She says: "Miles never took his writing for granted and always fretted if he thought he was producing anything at all sub-standard. "'How do you do it, day after day' and 'How do you churn it out?' were two questions he was most frequently asked. He strongly objected to the use of the word 'churn' and with justification. Everything he wrote was thought about, worried over, re-read, given me to read before it was sent off and checked again when it appeared in print."

She adds: "Some ideas he would chew over, try out, put aside and bring out to try again. His ideas came from everywhere. A vast pile of newspapers and magazines and an equally huge pile of cuttings, some dating back to the early 80s, contribute to the chaos in his study; stacks of books dominate every room; and his recordings of television and radio programmes reflect an almost obsessive anxiety not to miss anything that might be interesting.

"Wherever he went, he took a notebook. On holiday, other people take photographs; Miles wrote. Given a choice of telephone or letter, Miles would write and he kept copies of everything he wrote."

Mrs Kington says of the new book: "It is a wonderful collection of his writings, and includes old favourites and material not printed before. It is but a representative sample of his output and the hardest part was when the publishers cried 'Enough!' But I console myself with the thought there may well be another and then there are his letters, still waiting… "

Tickets cost £5 in advance from Mr B's on 01225 331155 or e-mail books@mrbsemporium.com.

The book is published by Old Street Publishing at £12.99.

Former TV reporter-turned-politician Martin Bell will be at an event organised by the bookshop at The Mission Theatre at 7pm on Wednesday November 25.

To read Mrs Kington's piece, go to www.thisisbath.co.uk/books