An Anglo-Indian retired journalist has had his first book published, described as full of ‘wit and warmth’.

Rudy Otter’s collection of humorous short stories and articles called The Very Best of Rudy Otter: Anglo-Indian Funny Stories is taken from the author’s collated pieces for international quarterly magazine Anglos In The Wind.

Mr Otter, 78, of Croyde Avenue, Greenford, said: “I’m very pleased with it indeed. I have always gone for mainly light-hearted articles.

“It is a pleasure to be published by Anglo-Ink.”

The author, who came to Greenford in 1953 and has been writing for the magazine based in Chennai, southern India, for 12 years, said: “We Anglo-Indians are a fun-loving, food-crazy community and I reflect these traits in my fiction.

“Many of us live in the borough and in the early days held regular dances in Greenford, Ealing, Acton, Sudbury Hill, Hammersmith, Chiswick, Hayes and Hounslow.”

The book explores the Anglo-Indian themes of husbands dominated by their wives, dance, boarding school boxing tournaments, drinking contests in bars, romances with unexpected outcomes, bicycle races, comical experiences of first-generation Anglo-Indian migrants in the UK and the community’s obsession with complexion.

Editor-publisher Harry MacLure said: “Rudy Otter has a knack of capturing the essence of ‘Anglo-Indianness’ in his articles and fiction with great wit and warmth. You cannot help but giggle and want to turn the pages.

“The book is sure to have Anglo-Indians everywhere clutching their sides with laughter because they will recognise traits of themselves as well as their relatives and friends in his witty articles and short stories peppered with authentic dialogue.”

Anglo-Indians are Christians, have British or European names and their mother tongue is English.

Staunchly pro-British, most left India after its independence in 1947 and settled in Britain, Canada, Australia, New Zealand and elsewhere, a minority chose to stay on in India.

To order a copy email harrymaclure@yahoo.com.