ANY story that features a plastic duck called Dennis and an ex-public school rabbit (stuffed) called Rufus has got to be worth a look. Add to the mix that it’s been written by a former Butlin’s Redcoat from Worcester and curiosity abounds.

In fact the book, Dennis and Rufus go to Worcester, has been aimed as a tour guide to the city and if the idea takes off, Lonely Planet had better look out.

There could be Dennis and Rufus go to Guatemala, Dennis and Rufus go to the red light district of Amsterdam or Dennis and Rufus go to Moscow and get arrested. The possibilities are endless – probably only limited by the imagination and experiences of the author Chris Wilson, who was born in Birmingham, but now lives in St John’s.

The first spin-off might be Dennis and Rufus go to Barry Island, because it was there during the long, hot summer of 1976 and the rather cooler one that followed it, Chris spent two seasons as a Redcoat at the Butlins holiday camp. He gave up the job because, in his own words, it was too much like hard work.

“You were on duty 24 hours a day and little girls followed you everywhere,” he said. “You had to be permanently happy and continually nice to kids.It wears you out after a while.”

Somewhat ironic then the Dennis and Rufus book has been written with youngsters in mind.

Obviously having overcome his sprog overload, Chris has pitched his first seriously published work at the younger generation, based on a style and characters featured in the short stories he wrote for his two daughters when they were young.

You can’t fault his imagination either. He said: “The two main characters Dennis, a yellow plastic duck, and Rufus, who is a public school-educated stuffed rabbit, come to Worcester to talk their mouse friend Bog out of joining Rodentski’s Circus and being shot from a giant crossbow as the Flying Bolt.”

Where did all that come from?

“No idea,” said Chris. “Just made it up.I have known the two main characters for more than 20 years, from when they featured in my children’s bedtime stories and these stories, the characters and pictures seem to be a perfect mix.

“I have tried to give the book a gentle humour and a look which harpsbacktoamore innocentage.”

In the course of their adventures, the trio visit all sorts ofWorcester landmarks and, as the tour books say, places ofinterest – so you have a potted guide to the city idealfor children.

Although it must be said, quite a few grown-up members of the editorial team here – yes, we do have some – having spotted the colourful publication lying on my desk have taken an interest too.

There are plenty of experiences for his stories in the very varied life Chris seems to have lived in the 57 years he’s been on this earth. As well as his aforementioned brush with employment by Sir Billy Butlin, he has sold double glazing, time share and fine wines and worked for eight years in mental health, helping people get back into work.

There followed a spell in Herefordshire running his own company that sold cleaning and catering equipment. Successfully too until it all got out of hand.

“I was no businessman,” he admitted. So he gave it up and turned to writing and illustrating instead. That’s when Dennis and Rufus came back into his life after a gap of two decades.

All the pictures for their adventures at well-known city locations such as the fountains at the bottom of Copenhagen Street, the golden glowing Hive or the black and white period charm of Friar Street, have been produced by Chris himself, along with a quick quiz which should make the book an educational exercise for children.

It’s on sale at numerous locations across the city,including theTourist Information Office, City Museum and Art Gallery, the Hive History Centre, Oxfam and severalindividual shops.

There are further adventures of Dennis and Rufus. For more information, e-mail the author at chillitales@gmail.com and if you can wait long enough the pair will probably be visiting a place near you before long. Just look out for a happy little duck and a rabbit who talks posh.