Former boxing champion speaks out

"Errol Christie will always remember 5 November 1985. His arrival in the ring at Wembley Arena to fight Mark Kaylor in a final eliminator for the British middleweight title was greeted by a prolonged volley of abuse. It came from what an editorial in Boxing News had called "the extreme right wing fascist element in Britain, an element which is represented in Kaylor's home territory of West Ham"."

So opens Chris Arnot's extensive profile of the former boxing champion in Wednesday's SocietyGuardian, which follows on the heels of the launch of Christie's autobiography No Place to Hide.

Christie's formative years were marked by violent battles fought against racists in and around the predominantly white Coventry estate where he grew up. The fortitude garnered from such a rough upbringing was what propelled Christie, now 46, into an amateur boxing career which then became a three-year term as captain of the English boxing team. His success peaked in 1983 when he was crowned European champion. Unfortunately, this event induced much violent indignation among Christie's compatriots - compatriots who felt the man, a foreign alien in their eyes, had no right to represent their country. In fact, the colour of Christie's skin was an issue right up to the end of his boxing career in 1985 when he was defeated by Kaylor.

Christie now trains white-collar professionals on how to box. He also dedicates much of his time giving talks on discipline and self-respect in schools and community centres across the country.

"Churchill sent MI-19 to find evidence of collaboration "

Barry Turner, the author of Outpost of Occupation, has caused quite a stir on BBC Jersey.

Most Dangerous Enemy Brought To Life

When it was launched in 2000, it was agreed among critics that Stephen Bungay's The Most Dangerous Enemy was the definitive history of the Battle of Britain. This three-month battle in 1940 has been the historical event foremost in symbolising Britain's character and destiny. To mark its 70th anniversary, Aurum will be bringing out a fully-illustrated, large-format edition of Bungay's remarkable book in June 2010. It will contain over 150 photographs, maps, diagrams of battle tactics and satirical cartoons from the era - many of them never before published - to bring to life this most fascinating story. The book is both an indispensible reference book for the military scholar as well as a gripping read for anyone with a passing interest in this famous battle.

Paddy Ashdown - Man of Action

With the prospect of a cataclysmic upset to the British electoral system hanging over us, the launch of the paperback version of Paddy Ashdown's bestselling autobiography couldn't be timelier. Of course, the former leader and founder of the Liberal Democrats has achieved much more than planting the seeds of a "third way" for Britain's electorate. These include his time as Royal Marine Commando, a spy and of course as the United Nations High Representative in Bosnia and Herzegovina. His chronicle - which paints a portrait of a Man in Action who also happens to be a good, principled character - was described by the Daily Telegraph as one of the most exciting and readable political memoirs available.

Blackberry, a biography

Known by that dubious epithet "Crackberry" for its vital role in keeping the business world ticking and the rumor mills greased, the Blackberry now has its official biographer in Rod McQueen. For this fascinating business story hitherto untold, the award-winning Canadian tech and business journalist, gets upclose and personal with the founders of Research In Motion, the company behind the device. Expect riveting details and much much more.

Daily Telegraph waxes lyrical about Rejoice! Rejoice!

A witty, engrossing review of Rejoice! Rejoice! Britain in the Eighties by Telegraph critic Roger Lewis.

Life's Too Short - a television extravaganza

Pint-sized actor and Yaxley's biggest star Warwick Davis will feature in his own television series alongside Ricky Gervais and Stephen Merchant, the creators of hit series The Office and Extras. The BBC series will be based on Davis' autobiography Size Matters Not, published by Aurum Press. According to Davis' own website, the BBC describes the programme, dubbed Life's Too Short, as: "an observation comedy which follows Warwick's day-to-day life in a small world where big things happen. It's a frustrating world but an optimistic and warm one".

So optimistic, in fact, that it was Davis' rare genetic disorder that launched him into showbiz. The actor, now 40, has enjoyed a 29-year career starring alongside the likes of Val Kilmer and David Bowie. But he is probably most fondly remembered for his role as Wicket the Ewok in several Star Wars films and as Filius Flitwick in the Harry Potter series
Davis is currently on a book-signing tour around the UK. For details of dates and locations, please visit his website.