Author’s note

For the doctrinaires amongst you I declare that some dates quoted do not necessarily coincide with historical reality. As they say in Hollywood, ‘Never let the truth get in the way of a good story’.

At great personal risk from those with nationalistic inclinations, I further declare that I have used the terms English and British interchangeably. Please try to adjust.

It is no coincidence that similarities to characters living or dead is entirely intentional in order not to protect their identity. You know who you are.