ALAN WHALLEY'S WORLD

WHEN my old pal Malcolm Smith left school he was sternly advised to steer clear of any career which might involve written use of the English language.

Now, with two books and three newspaper launches behind him, Malc can afford to thumb his nose at that well-meaning counselling.

Just fifty years on, he still recalls his old English master's blunt summing up - but, far from discouraging Malc, it proved the big spur in life which made him determined to make that teacher eat his words!

Malc, then living in Linden Grove, Birchley, founded the in 1973. He retired as chairman and managing director six years later with the intention of enjoying early retirement in Spain, where he now lives.

But, in fact, he's never stopped working.

Not even a stroke, suffered 16 months ago, has managed to slow him down.

He still writes on a weekly basis for the Costa Blanca News and the Weekly Post out there, as well as being a contributor to the Spanish international monthly magazine, Lookout.

He's the author of two published books, No Problema - You Must Be Joking! (a light-hearted look at life as an ex-Pat) and Good Heavens No, Mr Smith (a send-up of life in Paradise). Both have been so well-received that he's now in the process of completing his third book.

A bit of a lad, is our Malcolm who lists his hobbies as eating (he's also a prodigious wine-quaffer) and playing tennis.

He's president of his Benidorm club and, having shrugged off that stroke, can be found on court three or four times a week, competing with characteristic ferocity.

News of his recovery will be good news to all his old mates in St Helens who remember him as a bluff, colourful, larger-than-life character.

During a chequered career, he's been in on a hat-trick of newspaper launches. In 1966 as advert director with the fledgling Edinburgh Weekly; seven years later (his biggest milestone) as mastermind behind the St Helens Star; and now, in his mid-sixties, he's taken up a fresh challenge as travel feature writer and photographer with the Costa Del Sol News, whose first issue hit the Spanish streets last month.

NOT bad for a lad who left school under a cloud of uncertainty as to his future prospects!

Converted for the new archive on 14 July 2000. Some images and formatting may have been lost in the conversion.