A Bear in a Safari Hat in High Wycombe (From Bucks Free Press)

A Bear in a Safari Hat in High Wycombe

2:49pm Friday 18th December 2009

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A GLASWEIGAN who called High Wycombe his home for three years has written a book about the town in honour of the time he spent here.

JoJo Gould was a lecturer at Bucks New Uni for three years until 2003 and during that time he explored every inch of Bucks and what it has to offer.

He has since released a book called A Bear in a Safari Hat which is an allegory of Barack Obama's rise to power and half the book is set in Buckinghamshire.

Gould said: “Being a lecturer in High Wycombe was the best job I have had.

“I loved the town. I felt really at home which is quite strange as I come from 400 miles away.

“I was made very welcome by the people and I am just really pleased to help promote the town.”

The 232 page young adult fiction novel uses bears to tell the story of the rise of US President, Barack Obama Gould added: “I was quite inspired by Roald Dahl. I went up to Great Missenden- I had a walk around and saw the caravan at the bottom of the garden.

“Great Missenden for me is the kind of town where a children's author would live in. That had a big influence.”

There is a whole chapter set at the Hell Fire caves in West Wycombe which Gould said he loved.

The 40-year-old said: “They say everybody has got a novel in them. It was living in High Wycombe which made it happen.

“I was away from family and friends and had a lot of spare time. That helped me to focus on what I wanted to do and give me the inspiration.”

Areas you will spot in the book are Kingshill Road, Frogmoor, Old Amersham, Hazlemere and Flackwell Heath.

The book is on sale in 30 countries and is continuing to spread tourist information about High Wycombe around the world.

It is available from www.amazon.co.uk for £8.48.

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