Meet the former transport worker turned author - writing books to raise money to help those living with a disease which took his friend.
David Banks, from Walsingham, has written 15 books all in aid of the charity, Motor Neurone Disease Association (MNDA), to raise money to help tackle the disease that his friend died of in 2018.
Knowing he wanted to help, the 76-year-old pledged to his friend’s wife he would do what he could to try and help those living with Motor Neurone.
He has raised £2813.80, with Mr Banks aiming to raise as much as possible.
Mr Banks has also heaped praise on Fakenham Prepress Solutions, who have helped him publish his books over the years.
“I write for that friend of mine after he passed away unexpectedly, and I said to his wife, ‘if I can ever write anything I will’,” he said.
“Then one day, my wife said, 'are you dawdling, why dont you write a book? I said, ‘write a book, how do I start or finish it’ - that's how I started, now I have friends from all over the world who help me, and read my stuff, which is incredible.”
Mr Banks was a transport worker in London during the 1970s, where he drove a train in the Underground network. One day, he had a 'one under', which is the term used by Underground staff to describe a person under a train. He was on the back the day of the incident and as a guard, one must go under the train.
It led to him suffering a nervous breakdown, forcing him to leave the job - before he became a gardener.
Whilst living in Dorking, he took a holiday to Norfolk and fell in love with the county. Then in 2003, he moved here, which he called “the best decision” of his life.
The subjects of his book vary - from his time working on the Underground to tales from across East Anglia.
He does not let his disabilities stop his work, despite suffering from arthritis, wearing a pacemaker and needing a power chair to get around his bungalow
He is now undergoing his biggest book to date, ‘Angels of the Eighth Mission 115 Schweinfurt Oct 14th 1943', as it hopes to contain all known names of aircraft lost, crew’s positions in the B-17, of those who were sadly KIA and POWs.
To find out more visit https://www.jdbbooklets.org.uk
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