WALKING on to film sets in the Malaysian jungle, being recognised by Prince Philip and being asked to investigate the Kray twins are just snippets of John Ward's exceptional life.
He's now compiled his auto-biography to mark his 80th birthday - at the request of wife Maureen.
From Pit to Palace follow's the Arnold man's life from his childhood and apprenticeship at Gedling Colliery to time spent in the navy, police force and volunteering with the Duke of Edinburgh award.
"My family had plagued me for a long time to do something," said John, of Duke Street. "We had this deadline of my 80th birthday (September 19th 2014). I did my part, which was writing the words, what happens next I'm not sure."
The book was originally intended for John's grandchildren but a wealth of interest from friends and acquaintances has seen the family considering a publisher.
John moved to Nottingham from Lambeth, London in 1939 due to growing concerns for safety ahead of the war. He lost his father, who worked in Chilwell Munitions Factory, in 1942.
"I was the only child and my mother didn't earn much," said John. "So I got an apprenticeship at Gedling Colliery when I was 16 so I could help her out with as much money as I could."
After researching his family tree in later life, John found that a man from each generation of his family as far back as 1779 spent time at sea in one form or another.
"They've been all sorts," he said. "We've had fisherman, life boatmen, merchant seamen."
John joined the Royal Navy in 1952 and served for 12 years and had his first encounter with the Duke of Edinburgh early on.
"I was in the same squadron as him, based in Malta," said John. "I always really liked his sense of humour. But he got promoted faster than me, I feel like he might have known somebody!"
Months later, John lined the Mall outside Buckingham Palace at Queen Elizabeth's coronation in 1953.
During his time in the navy, John won medals for his role in the Suez Canal crisis in 1956 and the Borneo confrontation in the early 60s, when he was posted on HMS Albion, nicknamed The Old Grey Ghost of the Borneo Coast.
Fond memories include a 1954 tour of the West Indies, where he met film stars including Gene Kelly.
"In the navy I went to about 60 different countries," he said. "That tour of the West Indies was special. We went to all the places you want to go on holiday but can't afford."
In Malaysia, John camped in the jungle to the surprise of locals and also had some unexpected visitors himself.
"They were the only Europeans there," recalled wife Maureen, 77, from John's stories. "When they were going back to the ship all of a sudden they saw a group coming towards them with communist crosses.
"A man in a white shirt shouted at them, who turned out to be the producer for The Seventh Dawn, and William Holden was there filming."
After 12 years of service, John returned home and joined what was then Nottingham City Police, patrolling northern beats including Sherwood, Basford and Broxtowe.
"I really liked being on the beat," he remembers. "I liked meeting people from all walks of life and being in uniform. People knew who you were and you felt that sense of community."
But when real crooks came calling, John was called upon.
"I never had much desire to go CID," he said. "But when the Kray twins were reported to be near Nottingham I was involved in the investigation."
For 33 years, including some of his later days as a policeman, John volunteered as part of the Duke of Edinburgh awards.
"I've seen various youngsters through the programme and been down to the palace for them to get their gold awards," explained John. "I've seen Prince Philip a number of times and he always remembered me as 'Nottingham' - even when someone accidentally introduced me as a councillor from Northern Ireland he corrected them straight away."
In recent years, John has dedicated much of his time to writing and history.
A founding member of Arnold Local History Group, he has also written Flower of Arnold - a book about the sinking of a British warship adopted by Arnold.
John's incredible life journey has now been recorded and Maureen explains just why.
"If you know John, he always has a story to tell," she said. "My daughter in particular wanted him to write them all down. He's had a fascinating life, lived three times over."
