AN OTTERY boy who grew up to be a national newspaper journalist and author will return to the region this week to celebrate the launch of his first book.

AN OTTERY boy who grew up to be a national newspaper journalist and author will return to the region this week to celebrate the launch of his first book.

Nick Spencer, 44, a sports reporter for The Daily Telegraph, grew up in Winters Lane and has penned Never Say Die: The Remarkable Rise of Exeter City in honour of the club he loves.

Nick has fond memories of Ottery. He is the grandson of the late, well known Group Captain Laury Spencer, and lived near legendary Exeter centre-back Jimmy Giles in the town.

The book covers the virtual extinction of the club in 2003/04, the jailing of a former chairman and a bizarre cast of characters, including Michael Jackon and Uri Geller as well as two successive promotions.

* Paul Tisdale, Steve Perryman, Rob Edwards and Richard Logan will be signing copies of Never Say Die at WH Smith in Exeter's Guildhall Shopping Centre on Thursday December 3, from approximately 6.15pm.