A NORTHWOOD resident, Lt Cmdr Stewart Hett, 88, successfully collaborated on a book celebrating the life of the world's first celebrity cat.

Simon Ships Out: A Heroic Cat at Sea, written by Jacky Donovan, 56, and recently published on Amazon, tells the incredible story of Able Seacat Simon.

He is a mischievous cat smuggled aboard HMS Amethyst in the 1940s, transforming his simple life amid the streets of Hong Kong into an adventure fit for heroes.

With their ship captured by Chinese Communists in the famous Yangtze Incident of 1949, the brave sailors were under siege, desperate for home and fighting to survive against heavy gunfire and dwindling rations.

Then came their biggest battle – against rats. They needed a miracle.

So, Simon licked his gunshot wounds and risked all his nine lives to help the sailors survive a daring escape.

His service to his country made Simon the world’s first celebrity cat and the only puss to ever receive the PDSA Dickin Medal, the highest honour for animal gallantry in wartime.

"I was delighted when Jacky contacted me, having discovered I was involved in this epic piece of British history," said Lt Cmdr Hett.

"It is the 65th anniversary of the Yangtze Incident this year and therefore particularly appropriate that Simon tells his side of the story!"

It is also the 65th anniversary of Simon’s death. His obituary was even in Time magazine and he appeared in the media worldwide, with Lt Cmdr Hett acting as his press secretary as he received so much fan mail!

"So many sailors were killed or injured in the incident,” he said, “and it’s wonderful to see Jacky's book bringing the story to life and focusing it on a nation of cat lovers.”

Simon Ships Out: A Heroic Cat at Sea is available on Amazon in e-book format (£2.99) and paperback (£7.99).