We’re very sad that David Ayres, author and dear friend, died unexpectedly on 4 January 2016.

David Ayres, author, teacher, guitarist and pilot was a master story teller and we’re very proud to have published Top of the Sixties, his short story collection inspired by being a teenager in a working-class Midlands town.

We’ll miss his witty ‘grumpy old man’ blogs he wrote for our website, but above all we’ll miss his friendship.

Bernadette Jansen op de Haar, publisher, says, ‘It immediately clicked when I met Dave and his partner Sue for the first time in 2011. Very soon Dave not only became one of my authors but they both became good friends. I treasure the fond memories of wide-ranging discussions over a drink or a good meal. My thoughts are with his devoted partner Sue.’

We would like to remember Dave (on the right) in full flow with this picture taking during a signing session in Lichfield library.