ANOTHER wealth of fascinating tales of everyday life on Worcester's Westside during the 20th Century is arrestingly packaged in a second book from St John's librarian Philip Adams.

His first popular publication, Memories of St John's came out two years ago and is now followed by his second equally weighty book, More Memories of St John's which is to be officially launched at the suburb's library on Thursday, December 6, at 7pm.

No one has done more than Phil Adams to chronicle the 20th Century history of Worcester's Westside. He has spent untold hours of his own time interviewing hundreds of people and compiling detailed documentary evidence of life in that third of the Faithful City which lies to the west of the Severn and is traditionally known as St John's.

And his dedicated and painstaking work and researches have certainly not resulted in dry and boring documentary tomes, devoid of life and character.

On the contrary, his two books of memories are absorbing, fascinating and full of humour and humanity. They give a down-to-earth scale and vitality to an in-depth record of life, events and people and places of the Westside over the past century.

Philip gives eloquent voice to the very many contributors who have so readily regaled him with their recollections and reminiscences which he has either written down or recorded.

The end product is a priceless social history of St John's for present and future generations to possess, giving them a full and sharp insight into the joys, sorrows, hardships and happinesses of their Westside forebears.

More Memories of St John's extends to 432 pages with illustrations and at least 80 photographs and contains interviews with more than 200 people - a similar number to those who contributed their recollections to Phil's first book.

* More Memories of St John's by Philip M. Adams is published by St John's Library Coffee Pot Club and is printed by Eye-level Books of Worcester, price £15.