It was so sad to hear of the death last week of my friend the actor, writer and bookseller David Wilding. I first met him when I took over as manager of Ottakar’s Bookshop at the Exchange Centre in Putney in 2002. David had the perfect bass voice that begged to be overheard at any distance and an infectious fruity laugh. He loved talking to customers about books and helped create that wonderful ambience in a bookshop that draws people back and makes them feel part of a community of book lovers, combined of literary enthusiasm, gossip and good humour. David was often working on a novel that he hoped would ‘smash the YA market’, the story often featuring a supernatural element, nubile women and more sex than the average Game of Thrones episode. If it wasn’t banned in half the bookshops in Britain I’m sure it would have been a book teenagers would have loved to read under the covers.
David was a stalwart at our Marlinspike Hall Writing Group (pictured above) and his mellow tones would often be put to good use in dramatically rendering the work of others, especially if the narrative contained lots of rude bits. After I left Ottakar’s, David was a regular at supporting book events my next shop, the Calder Bookshop and Theatre in the Cut. One time, I invited one of my favourite poets to come and give a reading from her new book and knowing that she had a significant following, thought that she advertise it on her website and encourage her fans to attend. On the night she turned up with a gaggle of PR people from her publisher armed with a camcorder and several bottles of wine, only to discover that David and I were the only audience. Despite our pleading, they swept off in a huff to wine bar next door but they left us the wine which we finished off and toasted another great evening for British poetry. David will be sorely missed and helped make for me and for many others a visit to his book counter one worth remembering.
The Lighthouse by the Sea 
I was sad to learn of David’s passing. I first met David through attending the writers’ group at Ottakar’s, and the atmosphere he and Mark helped create was something to look forward to. I found David adventurous and jovial – someone who followed his passions. You could see this in his work, and also his optimism for humanity, as well as his caution. He was intrigued about the world and exploring its cultures and mysteries, but his humour always grounded him, making his work relevant. I was really impressed too, by how after losing parts of his manuscript he recovered to write another, and hope it will be published in time…
David was very supportive of other writers – be it as a listener or a narrator. Sometimes, writing can be a very internal and reclusive process, shutting you off from the world you want to connect with; you’re not always sure of what you produce, yet still you write – hoping for some kind of channel. David made me feel optimistic about my work whenever I heard it through his rich voice – which was steeped with his experience of life. You could learn a lot about people and life through David. Also that beyond despair, there was hope for a brighter existence – hope in the unknown – not fear. May he rest and roam in peace.
PS. David’s energy and mirth even inspired some aspects of a character of mine in Phosphorous – the editor Norr..