Book tells the story behind the headlines

10:14am Thursday 1st November 2007

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A NEW book tells the story of the Herefordshire man who took on the world's most dangerous job - in the world's most dangerous place.

Chris Hunter, who lives near Hay-on-Wye, was an intelligence officer turned bomb disposal expert in the British Army for 17 and a half years.

It was a job which saw him travel to conflict zones such as Northern Ireland, the Balkans and Afghanistan.

On his return from his latest tour of duty in Columbia, Chris told his wife Lucy that he would not be serving any more but, within a matter of weeks, he was told to prepare to fly out to Iraq.

Eight Lives Down is the story of the following four months as he encounters deadly improvised bombs, stray rockets and ambushes - and becomes a target for terrorist assassination.

"The book tells the emotional and human side of the conflict," said father-of-two Chris.

"There are funny bits and there is some soldier humour, but also it shows the serious side to war and what it is like for the Iraqi people.

"In the news we hear a lot about UK and US troops, so I have tried to capture what life is like for the people who live there."

Dividing his time between writing and giving counter-terrorism advice to large companies and government, Chris has coped well with the switch from an army life to a civilian one - but there are aspects of the job that stay with him.

"There is no greater feeling than when you have physically, tangibly helped someone or saved someone's life - I still think about the Iraqi people a lot.

"And I get annoyed with people's misunderstanding of what we are doing in Iraq.

"Soldiers are not all trigger-happy maniacs, and I know servicemen and women who have returned to the UK and been spat at.

"This is after they have put their lives on the line day in and day out. I think they deserve a bit of recognition."

Chris is due to give a talk to raise money for a Herefordshire school and will be at Clifford Community Hall on Thursday, November 8, to talk about the book between 7pm and 8pm, and to sign copies for an hour afterwards.

Tickets are £7.50 (£5 for concessions) and are available to buy on the door, with all proceeds going to Clifford Primary School.