Two-time British road race champion Steve Joughin will return home to the Isle of Man next week for a talk and book signings to promote his autobiography, Pocket Rocket. Manxman Joughin has lived in Stoke-on-Trent for the best part of thirty years but is fondly remembered in the Island, where he won the first of his two British titles around the TT course in 1984. Pocket Rocket charts his rise from a young tearaway on the streets of Willaston to the upper echelons of British cycling during the 1980s, and then follows his downward spiral into alcoholism after retiring early from the sport and subsequent rebirth as a successful businessman and family man. Steve will give a talk and sign books at Waterstones in Strand Street, Douglas, on the evening of Thursday, October 21. Doors open at 7.00pm and tickets, available from the store, are priced at ?2, with all proceeds from their sale going towards the James Berry Fund. A promising young cyclist, James was just thirteen when he died in 2005 while out on a training ride after being struck by a wheel that came loose from a lorry. Steve has also requested that a percentage of the proceeds from sales of Pocket Rocket go towards the Fund. He’ll follow up the Waterstones event with a book signing at the Lexicon, also in Strand Street, Douglas, on Saturday lunchtime, October 23. The Lexicon event will start at 11.30am and run till approximately 1.00pm. Pocket Rocket was co-written by Isle of Man-based cycling journalist Richard Allen and is published by Nemesis Publishing. Nemesis owner John Quirk said: ‘Steve’s lived a fascinating life so far and, given the humour within his autobiography, we’re sure he will prove to be a hugely entertaining speaker. That said, he’ll no doubt be brutally open and honest about the difficulties he’s been through as well. With proceeds from the talk going towards the James Berry Fund, we’re keen to see a good turnout in order to both raise money for the Fund and increase its public profile. ‘Of course, not everyone will be able to make the Waterstones event, and if you miss out on a signed copy of Pocket Rocket on that night, make sure you go along to the Lexicon on Saturday lunchtime. Steve’s only over in the Island for a few days, so best strike while the iron’s hot!’ Steve, whose nickname ‘Pocket Rocket’ was bestowed by commentator Phil Liggett, was a powerful sprinter and won stages of the Milk Race and the Kellogg’s Pro Tour of Britain, and was instrumental in smashing the Eastern Bloc supremacy of the Milk Race and leading British cycling into a golden age. ENDS