Rees won the annual Carnegie Medal recognising the year's best children's book by a British subject.

At home, Colin irritates his mother and older sister Mary, and so decides to go to see his father, who is working at Exeter Cathedral.

As Mr Lockwood has to check on the fire-fighting arrangements, Colin climbs to the top of the south tower for the first time, and is impressed by the extensive view of the city.

When Colin gets home, his mother recruits him to hand out sherry and snacks at the fashion show in Nimrod's that evening.

He gets a fit of giggles when he listens to the speaker, Mrs Wimbleball, describing the new collection in glowing terms, and is sent out by his mother.

The next day, it is clear that despite devastating damage to the city centre, the cathedral has been largely spared, raising morale.

It outlines the main architectural losses, considers the mystery of the survival of the cathedral, and notes that the city returned to a semblance of normality with surprising speed.

Children's books by the popular writers Enid Blyton and Arthur Ransome are mentioned as having been lost in the raid.