Faded Glory – David Essex

“You look lovely. I reckon, when you go for something like this, you have to look like you don’t need it, in order to get it. You know what I mean?” Left to face the world done up like a dog’s dinner, Danny was hoping against hope not to bump into anyone he knew on the way.

Thankfully he got to Costa and Cohen’s without seeing anyone he knew well, although he did get some quizzical looks and a wolf whistle from some building-site workers he had worked with in the past. Checking the address and with a belly full of butterflies, he rang the bell. The door opened to a swanky reception with boxing posters on almost every wall: some famous, some forgotten. Hidden somewhere behind a mask of make-up sat a receptionist: a pretty girl in her twenties with blood-red lipstick and nails to match.

Danny approached her, but was ignored in preference to an incoming phone call. Mid-conversation, the receptionist pointed to a seat. Danny obediently sat down. Looking around the impressive reception, he took in a brown leather sofa, three chairs, a coffee table and a rather tasteless water feature gurgling in the corner, with water flowing from a giant frog’s mouth. The receptionist carried on her conversation, oblivious to Danny’s presence. A feeling of anti-climax swallowed him.

This was a life-changing moment, but here he was, alone on a sofa, invisible and watching a frog spout water. * He looked at his watch. Five past three. Where were Albert and Patsy? What if they weren’t coming? What was he going to do? The receptionist hung up the phone and looked at him. “Can I help you?” “I’ve a meeting with Mr Costa and Mr Cohen,” replied Danny, relieved to be acknowledged. “Name?” “Danny. Danny Watson.”

The receptionist opened a diary. “You’re not down here,” she said. “What time was your appointment?” To Danny, the word appointment seemed dead on. After all his upbeat anticipation, it now felt like he was waiting for the dentist. “They said three o’clock, me and two others,” he said. “So where are the other two?” Danny adjusted his collar. “On their way,” he said hopefully. The receptionist looked disbelieving.

One boy’s journey from a life on the streets to the glory of the boxing ring. Albert Kemp is a lonely widower, whose only son was killed in the war. Now, in 1953, he is working in a pub by the railway arches. Downstairs is a traditional bar, upstairs is a famous boxing gym. It is here that Albert brings Danny, a fatherless boy who he rescues from gang life on the streets.

But as Danny begins to grow into a champion, the predators start to circle, luring him with glittering promises back into a life of crime in the corrupt world of match fixing. Will Danny listen to his wise old mentor? Or will the prospect of fame and money be too tempting? OceanofPDF.com For Mum and Dad OceanofPDF.com Contents Cover Welcome Page About Faded Glory Dedication Chapter 1 Chapter 2 Chapter 3 Chapter 4 Chapter 5 Chapter 6 Chapter 7 Chapter 8 Chapter 9 Chapter 10 Chapter 11 Chapter 12 Chapter 13 Chapter 14 Chapter 15 Chapter 16 Chapter 17 Chapter 18 Chapter 19 Chapter 20 Chapter 21 Chapter 22 Chapter 23 About David Essex Also by David Essex An Invitation from the Publisher Copyright OceanofPDF.com CHAPTER ONE 1953 FLAMING June.

Bloody typical. Albert Charles Kemp smiled at the bedraggled street party. The flags were soaked, the kids’ jelly only just edible. Despite the rain, this was a special day, a new Queen crowned and nothing would stop the celebrations. Nothing apart from the weather could rain on this parade. East London may have been battered and bombed in the Blitz, but these people were brave, proud and full of love for the Royal Family.

They had long memories too, remembering the new Queen Mother’s many trips to East London and how she’d helped lift morale through the bad times. Their affection for her and her family was overflowing, filling every street party with God Save the Queen, Rule Britannia and the exciting sense of a new beginning.

Together with a small crowd of locals, Albert had watched the history- making ceremony on a black-and-white television through a local electrical shop window. Now he watched the families dressed in their Sunday best, kids running here and there, mums and dads talking, singing, dancing; a community united. As he walked through the streets full of bunting, Albert felt a sense of belonging. These rough and ready neighbours were his people, these were his streets and this was his home. Albert lived in a rented, one-bedroom flat on top of a shop that sold second-hand toot.

The owner, Simon, never tired of looking, searching, for that elusive Fabergé egg, or an old master in someone’s unsuspecting attic.

This is a short excerpt from the opening of “” by Unknown, quoted for review and introduction purposes. All rights belong to the copyright holders.

Book Information

• Unique ID: 3601d9b27063db18
• File Extension: .pdf
• File Size: 1,775,004 bytes (1.693 MB)
• Title: –
• Author: Unknown
• Pages: 246
• Language: English (en)

Reading & Word Statistics

• Estimated Reading Time: 411.33 minutes
• Total Words: 82,267
• Total Characters: 459,374
• Average Words per Page: 334.42
• Average Characters per Page: 1867.37

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