While the majority of this novel is fictional, there are many scenarios featured in it which are based on real events. Equally, while no single character is based on solely one person, the influence of the wide variety of interesting and wonderful people who I have met is woven into the tale. My grateful thanks to Penny for her fantastic advice and support, to Chris and Chris for their encouragement and help, of course to my wife, for giving me the time to complete my ambition and telling it as it is. Finally, to my mother, who instilled in me a love for reading. George Taylor