Never Work with Children or Animals

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John Stirling starred in early TV shows such as 'The Four Just Men' and 'The Quatermass Experiment'. He was a successful child actor on TV & radio before starting a colourful career backstage working with a host of stars of the 1960s, 70s and 80s as a producer/director, including Jimmy Edwards, Marti Caine, Billy Fury, Bob Monkhouse, Peter Goodwright, Dusty Springfield, Danny La Rue, Patricia Hayes, June Brown, Sacha Distel, Chris de Burgh, Lesley Garrett, The Beatles and Mark Knopfler.

The book features a foreword by June Brown and a personal message from his lifelong friend Dame Judi Dench.

John Stirling followed his parent's footsteps into a theatrical career while he was still in short trousers. He became a successful child actor on TV and radio in the golden days of the 1950s and 60s before embarking on a varied and colourful career backstage, and sometimes upon it. He has worked as a stage manager on "Coronation Street", talent-spotted for prime-time TV programmes such as "Royal Variety Show", "Game for a Laugh", "Surprise, Surprise" and created a new-look "Gang Show".

John's life changed forever in 1989 when he and his wife Annie were moved by pity to rescue two abused and battered donkeys from a horse sale. John and Annie went on to create a sanctuary for the animals and others like them, which now, under the auspices of the Michael Elliott Trust, is home to the best part of two hundred donkeys.

Since donkeys galloped into his life, John has directed all his show-business skills to raising money for his charges and for the Trust. In this he has enlisted the help of a galaxy of famous figures and personal friends, from Dame Judi Dench to Chris de Burgh and from June Brown, Rolf Harris and Pam Ayres to late Sir John Mills. He is able to count many of Britain's greatest stars of stage and screen as his friends. This book tells the story of John's life in the entertainment business, and of the events that led to his taking up the donkeys' cause.