Michael Sleggs

Michael Sleggs is probably best known for his portrayal of Slugs on the BBC BAFTA award winning TV comedy, This Country. However, those who knew him best, knew he was a born entertainer who was always able to see the funny side of things despite the many difficulties that life threw his way. Michael had numerous complex heart operations for his congenital heart defects. During these he also suffered two strokes. He subsequently spent a further six months at Great Ormond Street Hospital as an inpatient when he was diagnosed with a non-Hodgkins lymphoma during his GCSEs. Despite his poor health, Michael still lived a full and happy life - he went to amazing places, had fantastic friends and enjoyed a range of interesting jobs culminating in the ultimate honour - acting alongside friends in a hit TV comedy! A life complete, he courageously bowed out on 9th July 2019, aged 33 - the same age as his ultimate hero. This book was in the final stages of publication just as Michael died. Michael had become concerned that some of what he had written might unintentionally offend or hurt individuals. He realised that he wouldn't be around to defend his book or to reassure those mentioned within that he cared for them more than the book might suggest. Therefore, one of his dying wishes was that we, as his family, would read through the book and remove or change anything we felt might cause offense. This has inevitably led to a delay in the publication, but we hope that you will feel it was worth it. We are now keen to publish this book in his memory - so that others can appreciate, as much as we have, his talent for entertaining and telling a tall tale. We miss him every day, and we are heartened that we are not alone in this. He touched the lives of so many people in his relatively short life and we hope that he can continue to do so with this book.