ONE of Devizes' most famous sons Simon May will be coming home on Saturday when he launches his autobiography and CD collection with a concert at Albion Place.

His autobiography not surprisingly is called Doof Doof after the drum roll of the EastEnders theme tune that helped set him on the road to stardom.

He is delighted to be coming back to the town where he grew up in Station Road at a time when trains still stopped just down the road and where he went to St Peter's Primary before moving on to Dauntsey's.

He said: "I love coming back to Devizes. I still have a number of relatives here and I have a close association with the Devizes Eisteddfod."

Earlier this year he helped create the Devizes Superchoir, which performed at Dauntsey's School, and a number of the children will join him in at the concert at the newly refurbished square in Sidmouth Street, which is now a performance space.

They will perform from noon and then he will sign copies of his book Doof Doof: My Life in Music along with an autobiography CD box set containing 50 of his all-time favourite hit themes and songs.

He said that the full autobiography came about as bi-product of writing a profile to go along with the CDs. He said: "The CDs are the story of my life told through music but instead of chapters there are different songs.

"I was asked to write the story to go with the CDs but I ended up with about 50,000 words and it had to be cut right down. I then decided I would try and get a publisher for the autobiography."

He was persuaded to re-jig the work and make it more chronological but he was determined to keep the essence of the story and its links with his music.

Mr May, who also composed theme tunes for a host of TV series such as Howards’ Way, Trainer, Castaway, Animal Park, ITV’s Seoul Olympics theme and Brat Camp.

He created the musical Smike and hit songs Every Loser Wins (a UK number one for Nick Berry), Always There (Marti Webb), More To Life (Cliff Richard), Summer of My Life (Simon May), More Than In Love (Kate Robbins) and co-produced Knock On Wood, which went to number one in the States for Amii Stewart.

His life has a huge number of highs but he is not afraid to admitting to a few lows as well, which included near bankruptcy after a 1993 national tour of the Simon May Orchestra failed to sell.

But Mr May, who comes over as one of life's optimists, was soon back on his feet.

His book published by Austin MaCauley priced at £10.99 will be for sale in Devizes Books and other outlets. TheCDs with an abridged autobiography is priced at £18.99.