A FORMER Bishopshalt School pupil has just published his first book, inspired by the years he spent drinking in the pubs of Uxbridge.
Joe Gardner, 26, grew up in Hayes, and by his own admission spent many a wasted hour of his teenage years sinking pints.
Almost four years ago he decided to write a book, loosely based on one of his friends and their experiences.
He said: “I drunkenly said one day that I was going to write a book about it, and then decided to try and put my money where my mouth is and do it.
“It took a long time; I was writing in my spare time, and about 18 months ago I reached a point where I thought it was over and I could not go any further with the book.
“I then wrote a short story, which I found complemented what I had done already, so I was able to incorporate some ideas from that and, finally, get the book finished.”
The Life and Loves of Jet Tea tells the story of the eponymous anti-hero who we find in the wake of a traumatic break-up, drinking away his troubles with his society-hating friends.
The story takes in places in Uxbridge, including The Crown and Sceptre in the High Street and The Crown and Treaty in Oxford Road. At one point a street drinker, claiming to be a wizard, turns up to take the story in a new direction.
“In the end the book became almost like my memoirs,” said Joe, who now lives in Soho and works as a pub manager.
“It felt really good to get that part of my life down on paper and I am now very excited that it is out there for people to read.”
Uxonians may, however, take issue with the accompanying notes on Amazon, which read: “Love, laughter, music and magic combine in this hilarious depiction of the booze-fueled wasters of England’s dead-end towns.”
n The Life and Loves of Jet Tea is available at www.amazon.co.uk or www.facebook.com/jetteanovel.
