After months of hard work the Charles Anderson Diaries: Living A Life With Motor Neurone Disease is now in stock and available to buy. It is hoped the book will serve as a lasting memory to the man who captured the hearts of the people across Beds, Herts and Bucks.  | Charles Anderson | |
For almost six months Charles opened up his heart in the unique audio diaries, which charted his battle with Motor Neurone Disease. Each week the former army captain spoke of his hopes, fears and thoughts as he faced up to his death and the effect the disease had on his daily life. Charles' family visited the publishing firm as the book rolled off the line. Sarah Anderson, Charles' widow, said her husband would have been incredibly proud of the book: "I'm sure Charles would be delighted to see all his hard work in print. When Charles first started the diaries we weren't sure how popular they would be, but the level of support he recieved has amazed me. "I'm sure the book will be a great reminder of what a great man he was." The book contains an exclusive foreword by Sir Cliff Richard OBE, as well as a number of chapters which have never been broadcast.  It will serve as a great legacy to a wonderful man. | Louisa Compton - Editor |
Proud BBC Three Counties Radio breakfast programme producer Louisa Compton, worked on the diaries with Charles and has edited the book. She said: "One of my biggest regrets is that Charles didn’t get an opportunity to see the final book. Although he was involved in every step of the process, he died just before we got the final draft". "I’m incredibly proud to be able to say that we’ve turned these audio diaries into a book. It meant the world to Charles, I’m sure he would have been very proud of it, and it will serve as a great legacy to a wonderful man." A couple of years ago Charles Anderson was one of the top skiers in the country, but 18 months ago he was diagnosed as having MND, a disease which also killed his father. Humour
Whilst, the main focus of the book shows Charles’ last few months as he battles against the disease, it also portrays a brave man who manages to keep his sense of humour alive even in the darkest of days.  | Watching the first copies printed. From left: Sue Fox (one of Charles' carers), Dorothy Anderson (Charles' mother), Sarah Anderson (Charles' wife), Louisa Compton (Editor) and Hugh Anderson (Charles' brother) |
Charles’s brother, Hugh Anderson, left America to live next door to Charles after his diagnosis. He says: “Charles was an extraordinarily generous person who loved to help people. He was genuinely delighted that he was able to help so many by his words and his attitude to life which was simply inspirational. His book is a testimony to his fight for life; a fight he fought to the very end and which provides an amazing insight into life with terminal disease. His children Alistair and Ella will now have something that will show them what sort of man their father was and how he faced the struggle. I know they will be proud of him". Brian Pretty, husband of Diane Pretty, the Luton woman who had MND and who campaigned - unsuccessfully - for her husband to be allowed to help her end her life without fear of prosecution praised Charles' bravery: "I commend the work Charles Anderson has done in bringing understanding to people about how Motor Neurone Disease affects its sufferers. He has challenged a lot of concepts and his time certainly hasn't been wasted." A percentage of the profits from the book will go to the North Herts Motor Neurone Disease Association with the remainder of the money going into a trust fund for his wife and children.  | The book rolls off the production line |
The book is available directly from the BBC Three Counties Radio station in Luton and Milton Keynes at a cost of £10.00 or you can order your book directly NOW (with an additional £2.95 charge for p & p) here. The book is available exclusively through the following bookshops: Hammicks - branches in Luton, St Albans and Hemel Hempstead
Book Castle in Dunstable
Bookworms in Biggleswade
David's Bookshops in Letchworth
County Town Books in Bedford
The Book Stack in Harpenden and Berkhamstead. For more information contact louisa.compton@bbc.co.uk You can also listen to theaudio diaries. | 
