A FORMER soldier and policeman, now based in Ledbury, has published a timely novel which is set in the trenches of the Western Front, during the First World War.

In casting his eye back one century, to the horrors of the conflict, Mr Crowe has portrayed as his main character an army padre who is both gay and an alcoholic.

Mr Crowe, aged 75, said of his first novel, called The Padre: "The main character becomes obsessed with a young solider, an orderly, and that leads to all kinds of problems. He's open to blackmail, and so the tragedy unfolds.

"It's a military drama and, I think, a timely story, given this is the centenary anniversary of the end of the First World War."

The book's cover note states: "The Western Front 1916, a dangerous place to be; but for three men not all the danger comes from the enemy beyond the trenches. Simon Renton, a hard drinking chaplain with a secret that could cost him dearly if revealed. David Collins, a frightened, naive young army orderly, an object of desire to Renton. Ron Watkins, a Quartermaster Sergeant, greedy, amoral and dangerous. A man who stops at nothing to get what he wants. Three men each with different desires and needs. A combination of lust, greed and blackmail..."

Mr Crowe has lived in Ledbury, on the Deer Park estate, for the past eighteen years with his long term partner Susan.

He has written short stories before, but this is his first novel, which he eventually decided to self publish.

He said: "I must have touted it around fifty publishers before I realised they will not take on new works by unknown authors."

Happily, The Padre is now on Amazon, Ledbury Books and Maps in the High St Ledbury and at Malvern's Co-op bookshop .

Mr Crowe served in the Royal Marines for nine years, including in Borneo and Northern Ireland.

He then worked for the Metropolitan Police, including with the CID and the River Police.

His interests include writing, wine, jazz and cricket.