A Royal British Legion standard bearer who admits to being an awful speller has written a book of poems inspired by everyday life for the organisation.

Alan Chilvers, 65, of Goldfinch Way, Watton, completed Poems From a Silly Grandad – a title inspired by his four-year-old granddaughter Maisie Chilvers, who lives at Lovell Gardens, Watton.

Mr Chilvers said: 'She always says to me 'you're a silly grandad'.'

The retired postman has been a standard bearer for the Royal British Legion's Watton and District Branch for the past 15 years.

Poems From a Silly Grandad features 75 poems, which have been written over the past 15 years since Mr Chilvers completed a night course at Northgate High School in Dereham and achieved a grade C in GCSE English.

He left the then Wayland Secondary Modern School in Watton aged 15 without any qualifications.

Most of the poems are on 'the lighter side of life', but more serious topics are covered, which include the late Queen Mother, last summer's London riots and the war in Afghanistan. The book also features emotional subjects and one poem I Close My Eyes is about how he imagines what life would be like without his wife Lorna, 61.

'It is a history of my life in a way. It is a record of my life and how I feel about it,' he added. 'I'm so honoured to carry the standard. The RBL is a brilliant organisation because it helps so many people. The government doesn't provide enough financial help for those who are injured or families of those who are killed.'

He will be signing copies of the book at Edwards Newsagent in Watton on Saturday from mid-morning.

Poems From a Silly Grandad costs �4.99 and �1 from every sale will go towards the RBL. It will be available from Edwards Newsagent on the High Street and Witley's Newsagents, High Street, Hunstanton, or by contacting Mr Chilvers by ringing 07749 276676 or emailing alanbchilvers@hotmail.co.uk

sophie.wyllie@archant.co.uk