KAT

Reginald Kat Redman, is the abandoned mixed race baby of a white English mother and a black American soldier. Conceived during the blitz he was raised in an orphanage in the East End of London. Kat is both his middle name and nickname.

This story follows his life from birth to National Service and includes his marriage to Joan and their beloved children Ben and Maria. He makes lifelong friends and witnesses terrible tragedies along the way but retains his dignity throughout.

The story has light hearted moments including the loss of his virginity, family parties with Karaoke, and some larger than life characters who he encounters along his journey through life.

But there are also dramatic and poignant moments such as his son fighting in the first Gulf war, and a friend being beaten to death in a bar.

Kat himself cheats death many times from which he earns his nickname, from nearly drowning in an icy lake to narrowly avoiding the shrapnel from an exploding boiler.

This is a life story which includes racism and hardships, a story of love, betrayal, tragedy, hardship and ultimately, success, throughout which Kat remains true to himself. It is clear that whoever befriends Kat, their life is enriched through doing so.