Book description
Thirties Bermondsey was a thriving place, and it was in this
bustling London borough that Thomas Hicks was born. Later, this
Bermondsey boy would become known as Tommy Steele .
In this engaging memoir Tommy recalls his childhood years growing up
in Bermondsey. He relives with great fondness Saturdays as a young
boy, spent gazing at the colourful posters for the Palladium and days
spent wandering up Tower Bridge Road to Joyce's Pie Shop for pie and
mash. But he also brings to life with extraordinary vividness what it
was like to live through the devastation of the Blitz.
Yet it was once he joined the merchant navy and began singing and
performing for his fellow seamen that his natural ability as an
entertainer marked him out as a favourite. And it was while ashore in
America that he became hooked on rock'n'roll and a legend was born .
From Tommy's humble beginning to life at sea and finally as a
performer, Bermondsey Boy is a colourful, charming and deeply engaging
memoir from a much-loved entertainer.
After short spell in the merchant navy, Tommy Steele rose to fame in
1956 as Britain's first home-grown rock'n'roll star. He went on to have
a long career in stage and film musicals, staring in
Half A Sixpence
,
Hans Anderson
and
Finian's Rainbow.
He lives in Bermondsey.
