MARGRAVE: definition "princely" (Wikipedia).

John Robert Parker Ravenscroft is surely worthy of such a title.

Brought up in Shropshire (the Marshes) and soon dispatched to boarding school, the boy who was to become known to millions as John Peel, influential DJ, champion of limitless bands eager for exposure, and much loved broadcaster.

By his own admission, he did not excel in his academic studies. Neither, he tells us, did he excel in his National Service, though his tough time at school being a pretty boy; much bullied (and worse) enabled him to cope with whatever was meted out to him by the army.

His early attempts at making any sort of living for himself, initially in America, were equally unsuccessful. All this is recounted in John's own inimitable style.

However, from his early days on the Pirate Radio Ships to his Radio Four programme Home Truths on Saturday mornings, he became like a friend to his devoted followers, many of whom, like me, have matured with him.

His style spanned the generations.

John suffered a heart attack and died aged 65 on October 25, 2004, whilst on a rare holiday in Peru with his beloved wife Sheila.

It is Sheila who completes the book, in a similar vein. She writes about the home loving family man, with whom she had four children.

The book ends with a letter written to his literary agent outlining the content of the proposed book.

The letter is typical of John's dry delivery, ending with the line "I could write more but I have to go and help the children put up a tent".