1955-09-24 — Page 13

MY GROUSE

AGAINST

By

NANCY

NIGEL BALCHIN SPAIN

T

HIS in the age of the of Natural Science, while business man, the age there made friends with u of the "trick-cyclist." small, dark man who wanted So it is no wonder that our to be an actor. best-selling novellat is a mixture of both.

He was James Mason. "I

firat encouraged him to keep

I am thinking about that cats," says Balchin. 47-year-old, 'cricket-playing By 1983 Mason was star- wonder, Nigel Balchin, who has a new book, THE FALL ring in a play by Balchin OF THE SPARROW (Col- called "Miserable Sinners." lina, 128, Gd.), just out. It

is all about a young man called Jason Pellew.

So brilliant

When the book opens he IN 1939 Balchin became

"scientific adviser" to the

is on trial for false pre Army Council. He became a tences, dud cheques, stealing. "All," says one of brigadier. He wrote such his school chums, "various booka as "Darkness Falis illegal methods of raising from the Air" and "The Small Back Room," with the wind."

The judge, in sentencing their brillant use of wartime Jason to 12 months' im- backgrounds.

prisonment, remarks that he He has been married

JA

"the son of a dis- twice. By his first marriage tinguished soldier, was given he has three daughters.

a first-class education,

served his country gallantly, Balchin, acknowledged na

and had the honour to hold a mań

his Majesty's com-

mission."

A

a

THE CHINA MAIL, SATURDAY; SEPTEMBER 24, 16

Inflation

T

ISTANBUL NIGHTS

WORLD BANK

WORLD

BANK

"THESE INFIDELS ~ THEY ARE

DEVOUT ?"

"NOT SO, THEY LOOK FOR

THE SIXPENCE THEY DROPPED LAST APRIL"