A Dick King-Smith Evening With His Son, Giles

Published on Wednesday, November 12th, 2025

Friday November 7th 2025 – a damp evening in Ilfracombe on the North Devon coast, with the odd firework going off, and in St. Peter’s Church, a gathering to hear me talk about my Dad’s life and books. Mostly adults – it was the end of the school week, after all – with a handful of parents and children.

I called the event “An Unlikely Story”, and interspersed my account of how a failed farmer and maths-averse primary school teacher somehow became a best-selling children’s author with readings from “The Sheep Pig”, “George Speaks” and “Sophie’s Snail”, ending with the unlikeliest twist of all: a new Dick King-Smith book, finished by his great-grand-daughter Josie, published 11 years after his death! A copy of this book, “Ambrose Follows His Nose”, was the raffle prize, won by avid young reader Ellie.

Paul and Mary-Ann from the excellent Ilfracombe Bookshop (on the High Street, just beyond the petrol station, if you’re ever in town) had copies of 5 titles for sale; and I found myself being asked to sign some of them! False pretences or reflected glory?

It was an evening that reminded us all of how engaging and clever and funny Dick’s writing was and is, and also of how nothing can beat a good book. I didn’t have time to read it on the night, but if you have a copy of “Friends and Brothers” – all about my nephews Will and Charlie Hurst – read the final chapter, “Try Counting Sheep”, and laugh at how brilliantly ingenious (and true to life) it is…

Giles King-Smith.

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