New book by past pupil on his uncle, a renowned Ulster film director

BANGOR Grammarians are delighted to recommend the latest publication by Allan E. Smith, who attended the School between 1975 and 1982.
Theirs Is The Glory, co-written with David Truesdale and with a foreword penned by Sir Roger Moore, examines the work of Allan’s late uncle Brian Desmond Hurst, the renowned Belfast-born film director, with a particular emphasis on conflict.
Allan, son of Marion and Stanley, is a chartered accountant by profession. In addition to his professional career, which includes providing business start-up expertise, he administers the estate of his uncle.
The book, which is being launched this week, is the product of many years of research. It concentrates on Theirs Is The Glory, the 1946 British war film about the British 1st Airborne Division’s involvement in the Battle of Arnhem (17 September to 25 September 1944). It was the first film to be made about this battle, and the biggest grossing war movie for nearly a decade.
Weaving original footage from the battle with re-enactments shot on location at Oosterbeek and Arnhem, the film was shot a year after the battle had ravaged the Dutch streets.
Though no credits appear before or after the film, over 200 veterans appeared as actors including Sgt. Jack Bateman (uncle of author and past pupil Colin). Each veteran was paid £3 per day by the Rank Organisation.
Theirs Is The Glory is in hard back format, runs to around 400 pages with some 350 images. The publisher is Helion and Co., which specialises in military books. For those interested in obtaining a copy, their launch offer can be viewed by visiting http://www.helion.co.uk/theirs-is-the-glory-arnhem-hurst-and-conflict-on-film.html
Another of Allan’s publications, Good Retirement Guide 2016, has proved very successful. Good Retirement Guide 2017 is filled with more tax, pensions and lifestyle hints and tips and will be published 3 January 2017 (Kogan Page).