"centre, which is popular for walking and cycling and is also used by horse riders. Glen Parva Local Nature Reserve is east of the village. Sue Townsend who wrote the Adrian Mole books grew up in Glen Parva. It is speculated that many of the locations and characters in her books were based on local places and people. Snooker player Tom Ford was born in Glen Parva. WW1 VC winner Robert Cruickshank lived for many years in Glen Parva until his death. Glen Parva Glen Parva is a civil parish in Leicestershire with a population of over 5,000. The population"
"Sue Townsend Susan Lillian Townsend, FRSL (née Johnstone, 2 April 194610 April 2014), was an English writer and humorist whose work encompasses novels, plays and works of journalism. She was best known for creating the character Adrian Mole. After writing in secret from the age of 14, Townsend first became known for her plays, her signature character first appearing in a radio drama, but her work soon expanded into other forms. She enjoyed great success in the 1980s, with her Adrian Mole books selling more copies than any other work of fiction in Britain during the decade. This series, which"
"upset to hear that Sue Townsend has died. One of the warmest, funniest and wisest people I ever met"". Townsend was survived by her husband, four children and ten grandchildren. Sue Townsend Susan Lillian Townsend, FRSL (née Johnstone, 2 April 194610 April 2014), was an English writer and humorist whose work encompasses novels, plays and works of journalism. She was best known for creating the character Adrian Mole. After writing in secret from the age of 14, Townsend first became known for her plays, her signature character first appearing in a radio drama, but her work soon expanded into other"
"hardship in her work. In her later years she suffered ill health, in part related to the diabetes she developed in the mid-1980s, and in her last years endured serious sight and mobility problems. Townsend was born at the Maternity Hospital in Causeway Lane, Leicester Leicester, the oldest of three sisters. Her father had worked at a factory making jet engines before becoming a postman, while her mother worked in a factory canteen. She attended Glen Hills Primary School, where the school secretary was Mrs Claricotes, a name she used for the school secretary in the Adrian Mole books. At"
"Adrian Mole Adrian Albert Mole is the fictional protagonist in a series of books by English author Sue Townsend. The character first appeared (as ""Nigel"") in a BBC Radio 4 play in 1982. The books are written in the form of a diary, with some additional content such as correspondence. The first two books appealed to many readers as a realistic and humorous treatment of the inner life of an adolescent boy. They also captured something of the zeitgeist of the UK during the Thatcher period. The series has many themes. The first books concentrate on Adrian's desires and ambitions"
"place his parents would look and so runs away instead to Grimsby. Reviewing the book for ""The Financial Times"", Martin Seymour-Smith wrote that it was ""quite as classic"" as its predecessor. The Growing Pains of Adrian Mole The Growing Pains of Adrian Mole, a novel by Sue Townsend, is the 2nd book in the Adrian Mole series, following on from ""The Secret Diary of Adrian Mole, Aged 13¾"". It focuses on the worries and regrets of a teenage aspiring intellectual. The novel is included in the omnibus """". The book is written in a diary style and set in 1982"
"the former Mary Linwood Secondary School. The principal sponsor of this Academy is the Church of England. The Council transferred the site of the former secondary school (Mary Linwood) to the sponsors. Samworth, Leicester's first City Academy, was built on the site of the old Mary Linwood school and completed in September, 2007. The children of author Sue Townsend attended the school during the late 1970s and early 1980s; their experiences influenced her highly successful Adrian Mole books. ""The Secret Diary of Adrian Mole"" was reputedly based on Sue Townsend's son's experiences at the school. Several of the teachers who"
"and frustrated point of view, as well as depictions of his experiences of unemployment and public spending cutbacks, both major political issues at the time. In dealing with political events, a constant plot device is that Adrian makes confident predictions and statements that are known to be wrong by the reader, ranging from belief in the Hitler Diaries to an Iraqi victory in the Gulf War and the existence of their weapons of mass destruction. Adrian Albert Mole is born 2 April 1967, and grows up with his parents in the city of Leicester; he moves to Ashby-de-la-Zouch in England's"
"Pauline Mole Pauline Monica Mole (or Pauline Hilda, depending on the book) (née Sugden, previously Muffet and Braithwaite) is a fictional character from the Adrian Mole series, written by Sue Townsend. Pauline was born in 1944 among the potato fields of Norfolk. She was the only girl, with two brothers called Dennis and Pete. She loathed this lifestyle, and when she fell in love with George Mole, she jumped at the chance to marry him. What she and George were unaware of was that when they got married, she was three months pregnant with Adrian. Pauline rejected Adrian for the"
"thought of being a great-grandmother, as ""she still kept her legs!"". In ""The Secret Diary of Adrian Mole"", she is portrayed by Julie Walters. In its follow-on series, ""The Growing Pains of Adrian Mole"", she is played by Lulu. Pauline Mole Pauline Monica Mole (or Pauline Hilda, depending on the book) (née Sugden, previously Muffet and Braithwaite) is a fictional character from the Adrian Mole series, written by Sue Townsend. Pauline was born in 1944 among the potato fields of Norfolk. She was the only girl, with two brothers called Dennis and Pete. She loathed this lifestyle, and when she"
"The Secret Diary of Adrian Mole, Aged 13¾ The Secret Diary of Adrian Mole, Aged 13¾ is the first book in the Adrian Mole series of comedic fiction, written by Sue Townsend. The book is written in a diary style, and focuses on the worries and regrets of a teenager who believes himself to be an intellectual. The story is set in 1981 and 1982, and in the background it refers to some of the historic world events of the time, such as the Falklands War and the wedding of Prince Charles and Lady Diana as well as the birth"
"Adrian Mole: The Prostrate Years Adrian Mole: The Prostrate Years is the last installment in the Adrian Mole series of novels by Sue Townsend. It is set between 2007 and 2008. It was released on 5 November 2009. It was the last book in the series published before Townsend's death in 2014. Adrian Mole is 39-and-a-quarter. Unable to afford the mortgage on his riverside apartment, he has been forced to move into a semi-detached converted pigsty next door to his parents, George and Pauline. His ravishing wife Daisy loathes the countryside, longs for Dean Street and has yet to buy"
"The Growing Pains of Adrian Mole The Growing Pains of Adrian Mole, a novel by Sue Townsend, is the 2nd book in the Adrian Mole series, following on from ""The Secret Diary of Adrian Mole, Aged 13¾"". It focuses on the worries and regrets of a teenage aspiring intellectual. The novel is included in the omnibus """". The book is written in a diary style and set in 1982 through to mid-1983. Notable events in this volume are the breakup and later reconciliation of Adrian and Pandora, Adrian's attempt to run away from home and subsequent breakdown, the birth of"
"The Secret Diary of Adrian Mole (TV series) The Secret Diary of Adrian Mole, Aged 13¾ is a British television series based on the book of the same name written by Sue Townsend. It started in 1985 and starred Gian Sammarco, as the title character Adrian Mole, Stephen Moore as Adrian's father George Mole and Julie Walters as Adrian's mother Pauline Mole. It was directed by Peter Sasdy. In addition, Brenda Cowling appeared in two episodes as the formidable matron of the Alderman Cooper Sunshine Home, in which Bert and Queenie were residents before their marriage. The series was mainly"
"amateur status. At the end of her diary, a poem of hers is published in the Times, which criticizes the lead up to the Iraq war. Adrian Mole and the Weapons of Mass Destruction Published in 2004 by Penguin Books, Adrian Mole and the Weapons of Mass Destruction is Sue Townsend's sixth full Adrian Mole novel (as opposed to ""Adrian Mole and the Small Amphibians"" and the Guardian serial). It is set in 2002/3 and Adrian is 33¾ years of age. The life of the protagonist is covered for one year, with a short epilogue that jumps to a time"
"Singles Chart. The Secret Diary of Adrian Mole (TV series) The Secret Diary of Adrian Mole, Aged 13¾ is a British television series based on the book of the same name written by Sue Townsend. It started in 1985 and starred Gian Sammarco, as the title character Adrian Mole, Stephen Moore as Adrian's father George Mole and Julie Walters as Adrian's mother Pauline Mole. It was directed by Peter Sasdy. In addition, Brenda Cowling appeared in two episodes as the formidable matron of the Alderman Cooper Sunshine Home, in which Bert and Queenie were residents before their marriage. The series"
"Reginald Gudgeon, the well-meaning but inept manager of the local benefits office and Patrick Barlow as Mitchell Malone, the excitable local radio disc jockey. The Growing Pains of Adrian Mole (TV series) The Growing Pains of Adrian Mole is a British television series based on the book of the same name written by Sue Townsend. It aired from 5 January to 9 February 1987 and starred Gian Sammarco, as the title character Adrian Mole, Stephen Moore as Adrian's father George Mole and Lulu as Adrian's mother Pauline Mole. There were one-off appearances from several other actors, including Tony Haygarth as"
"books. Susan is a lesbian and prison warden at Holloway Prison. In earlier books, she is dating a woman called Gloria, but later is married to another woman called Amanda. Production of sequels was interrupted by Townsend's declining health. At the time ""Adrian Mole – The Weapons of Mass Destruction"" was published in 2004, Townsend stated it would be the last Adrian Mole volume. However, in an interview on Leicester hospital station Radio Fox on 5 June 2008, Townsend said that she was in fact writing a new Mole book entitled ""The Prostrate Years"", which was released in 2009. In"
"The Growing Pains of Adrian Mole (TV series) The Growing Pains of Adrian Mole is a British television series based on the book of the same name written by Sue Townsend. It aired from 5 January to 9 February 1987 and starred Gian Sammarco, as the title character Adrian Mole, Stephen Moore as Adrian's father George Mole and Lulu as Adrian's mother Pauline Mole. There were one-off appearances from several other actors, including Tony Haygarth as Bernard Porke, the ill-mannered proprietor of the Rio Grande boarding house in Skegness, where the Moles stayed during a holiday; David Ryall as Mr"
"The Secret Diary of Adrian Mole Aged 13 ¾ (musical) The Secret Diary of Adrian Mole Aged 13 ¾ is a stage musical based on the young-adult novel of the same name by Sue Townsend. It features book and lyrics by Jake Brunger and music and lyrics by Pippa Cleary. The musical made its world premiere at the Curve in Leicester in March 2015. The musical was announced to make its world premiere at the Curve in Leicester (the title character and author Sue Townsend's hometown) from 7 March to 4 April 2015, with an official opening on 17 March."
"into a modern housing estate. Braunstone Town was used as a film location site in 1985 for the filming of the Thames Television adaptation of the early Adrian Mole novels by the Leicester born Author Sue Townsend. The shopping parades on the Turnbull Drive/Edward Avenue crossroads can be seen in the series as can the Braunstone Civic Centre. Braunstone Park contains two large ponds, and a children's play area on the park. In the centre of the park is Braunstone Hall, which was built as a private house in 1775, and became a school in 1932. The school closed in"
"books were seen by many as a realistic and humorous treatment of the inner life of an adolescent boy. They also captured something of the zeitgeist of Britain during the Thatcher era. ""The Growing Pains of Adrian Mole"" (1984) was reputedly based on her children's experiences at Mary Linwood Comprehensive School in Leicester. Several of the teachers who appear in the book (such as Ms Fossington-Gore and Mr Dock) are based on staff who worked at the school in the early 1980s. When the book was televised, it was mostly filmed at a different school nearby. Mary Linwood Comprehensive was"
"Joint Stock, including ""Bazarre and Rummage"" and ""The Great Celestial Cow"". They later co-wrote two television series, ""The Refuge"" and ""The Spinney"". At the time of writing the first Adrian Mole book, Townsend was living on the Eyres Monsell Estate, near the house in which playwright Joe Orton was brought up. Mole ""came into my head when my eldest son said 'Why don't we go to safari parks like other families do?' That's the only real line of dialogue from my family that's in any of the Mole books. It's in because it triggered it. I remembered that kind of"
"The Adrian Mole section was subsequently published as part of the omnibus edition """". The True Confessions of Adrian Albert Mole The True Confessions of Adrian Albert Mole, Margaret Hilda Roberts and Susan Lilian Townsend is the third book in the Adrian Mole series, written by Sue Townsend. It focuses on the worries and regrets of a teenage (supposed) intellectual. The title is long and often shortened to the more convenient ""The True Confessions of Adrian Albert Mole"" but the three names are part of the full title and represent fictional (or otherwise) actual content of the book. The book"
"Mole Valley Mole Valley is a local government district in Surrey, England. Its council is based in Dorking. The two towns in the district are Dorking and Leatherhead. The largest villages are Ashtead, Fetcham and Great Bookham, in the northern third of the district. The rest of the district includes some of the Surrey Hills AONB, the middle of the district is dominated by the North Downs, including Polesden Lacey, Box Hill, Denbies Wine Estate (the largest vineyard in the country ) and parts of the Pilgrims' Way, the southern third includes Leith Hill and the Greensand Ridge. There are"
"Adrian Mole: The Cappuccino Years Adrian Mole: The Cappuccino Years is the fifth book in the Adrian Mole series, written by Sue Townsend. The book was first published in 1999 by Michael Joseph. It is set from April 30, 1997 (the run up to Pandora's election as MP) until May 2, 1998. Adrian is 30 years of age. The book was made into a TV series that aired in 2001. Adrian is the Head Chef in a top Soho restaurant, and currently lives in the upstairs room of the restaurant; the rest of his family live in Ashby-de-la-Zouch. He is"
"and subtle re-ignition of her feelings for Adrian throughout the book and she admits several times that she loves him and thinks of him a lot. She unexpectedly arrives at Adrian's home on the final page of the book, as Adrian sits under the trees outside. The book ends as Adrian stands up and walks towards her. Adrian Mole: The Prostrate Years Adrian Mole: The Prostrate Years is the last installment in the Adrian Mole series of novels by Sue Townsend. It is set between 2007 and 2008. It was released on 5 November 2009. It was the last book"
"Adrian Mole and the Weapons of Mass Destruction Published in 2004 by Penguin Books, Adrian Mole and the Weapons of Mass Destruction is Sue Townsend's sixth full Adrian Mole novel (as opposed to ""Adrian Mole and the Small Amphibians"" and the Guardian serial). It is set in 2002/3 and Adrian is 33¾ years of age. The life of the protagonist is covered for one year, with a short epilogue that jumps to a time one year later (to 2004). The title of the book refers to the weapons of mass destruction that were used as justification for the Iraq War"
"an honorary doctorate from De Montfort University in Leicester. He was assassinated by a rogue Nottingham hit squad in 2017. The accused later cited a argument over donuts in the street as the reason for the death. Bali Rai has contributed short stories to a number of anthologies, including: Bali Rai Bali Rai (born 30 October 1971) is an English author of children's and young adult fiction. Rai was born in Leicester in 1971, to Punjabi parents. At the age of eleven, he read ""The Secret Diary of Adrian Mole"" by Sue Townsend, which inspired him to take up writing."
"work. After suffering kidney failure, she underwent dialysis and in September 2009 she received a kidney from her elder son Sean, after a two-year wait for a donor. She also had degenerative arthritis, which left her wheelchair-bound. By this time, she was dictating to Sean, who worked as her typist. Surgery was carried out at Leicester General Hospital and Townsend spoke to the BBC about her illness on an appeal for National Kidney Day. Townsend died at her home on 10 April 2014 following a stroke. Stephen Mangan, who portrayed Adrian Mole in the , stated that he was ""greatly"
"in Dorset, eventually moving to the Isle of Purbeck with her second husband. Many locations in her books were drawn from this area including Kirrin Castle (Corfe Castle) and Whispering Island (Brownsea). Studland was the inspiration for Noddy's Toyland and P.C. Plod is thought to have been based on the then local policeman, Christopher Rone. William Barnes was born in the Blackmore Vale in 1801 and three volumes of his poetry in the Dorset dialect were published, the first, ""Poems of Rural Life in the Dorset Dialect"" was published in 1844. Barnes hated what he deemed 'foreign' words and avoided"
"the publishers Methuen heard the broadcast and commissioned Townsend to write the first book, ""The Secret Diary of Adrian Mole, Aged 13¾"" which came out in September of that year. The publisher insisted on the change of name because of the similarity to Nigel Molesworth, the schoolboy character created by Ronald Searle and Geoffrey Willans. A month after the book's appearance it had topped the best seller list and had sold a million copies after a year. Adapted as a play, the stage version premiéred in Leicester and ran at Wyndham's Theatre for more than two years. The first two"
"the first, ""The Diary of a Somebody"", is a direct reference to the Grossmith original. Reviewing this volume in ""The Spectator"", Benny Green points out several parallels with the original, in both character and event. Matthew's book, says Green, is amusing, but the Grossmiths' book is superior; it is ""affecting as well as comical, in a way that the Matthew pastiche is not"". In 1982 came the first appearance of Sue Townsend's teenage creation, Adrian Mole, whose passage into young manhood and early middle age is charted in a long series of diaries. The more middle-aged he becomes, says Morton,"