yeovilliteraryfestival

David Wikins - The Longest Walk Home

In 1940, Private Raymond Bailey, a 21-year-old Vauxhall motors apprentice, was captured in northern France, becoming a Nazi prisoner of war. But he wouldn't remain one for long... The Longest Walk Home is the incredible account of his daring 2,000 mile escape across Europe and over the Pyrenees, to the safety of British Gibraltar, and home in time for Christmas. Along the way Ray has nerve-shredding encounters with German soldiers and the Spanish Civil Guard. Often he is exhausted and starving. All that keeps him going is his youthful energy, unfailing optimism, and the kindness of strangers who risk their own safety to help him. Of the 270 men of the 1st Kensingtons who were taken prisoner, only Ray and 1 other escaped. The rest remained captive until the end of the war 5 years later.

Ray's escape is remarkable, but so too is his memoir. It was written within a year or two of the events it describes, when Ray was just 22, and despite Ray's obvious writing talent it was lost for decades until it was discovered at auction in an unmarked box of WWII memorabilia by David Wilkins. Ray's is a true unheard voice, and one of the last from this time.

David Wilkins spent most of his working life in the charitable and public sectors. He also taught at university. Outside of work he has long collected old diaries, manuscripts, letters, photo albums and other similar items. In 2019 he gambled on a box of old notebooks at auction and discovered he now owned Ray Bailey's wartime memoir. The Longest Walk Home is David's second book based on a found memoir.

This event will take place in Wheeldon Suites 2&3.

Event sponsored by:

Tickets: £12.00
Footlights: Discount applies

This is a Yeovil Literary Festival Event.

A £1.50 ticket levy is included in all stated ticket prices.
All bookings are subject to a £2 transaction Fee.