Inspired by his parents' Royal Navy service, The CPO & The Wren explores the personal sacrifices and resilient relationships that shaped one family's wartime experience.

Somerset, United Kingdom (PRUnderground) October 2nd, 2026

Author Geoffrey Spinks brings his parents' wartime experiences to a new generation of readers with The CPO & The Wren, a historical novel inspired by the real service of his father in the Royal Navy and his mother in the Women's Royal Naval Service (Wrens) during the Second World War. While fictional in its characters and narrative, the novel draws on family stories and historical events to explore the human cost of war through the lens of love, duty and resilience.

Beginning in pre-war London, The CPO & The Wren follows George Fredericks and Jeannie Gammon as their young romance grows into marriage just as Britain enters the Second World War. George joins the Royal Navy, eventually serving as a Chief Petty Officer, while Jeannie becomes a communications operator in the Women's Royal Naval Service. Separated by military service, they navigate years of uncertainty as the story moves through naval operations, wartime Britain and major historical events that shaped a generation.

Spinks, who was born near London during the Second World War, wrote the novel after years of hearing his parents recount their wartime experiences. The book is dedicated to their memory and to all those who served during the conflict, reflecting the author's desire to preserve personal stories alongside the wider history of the war.

"Growing up, I heard many stories about my parents' wartime service," said Geoffrey Spinks. "Although The CPO & The Wren is a work of fiction, it gave me the opportunity to honour their generation and preserve something of the courage, sacrifice and humanity they experienced."

Rather than focusing solely on military campaigns, The CPO & The Wren explores the emotional realities faced by ordinary families whose lives were transformed by war. Through the experiences of George and Jeannie, the novel examines separation, sacrifice, loyalty and hope while portraying both frontline service and life on the home front against an authentic historical backdrop.

Spinks' own background also informs the depth of the novel's historical setting. Before becoming an author, he built an international career as a Dairy Technologist and Technical Consultant, later becoming a Fellow of the Institute of Food Science and Technology. The CPO & The Wren is his second published novel and follows his earlier science fiction work, 2084, marking a shift from speculative fiction to historical storytelling rooted in family history.

With interest in personal wartime stories continuing across generations, The CPO & The Wren offers readers a fictional narrative inspired by lived experiences, highlighting the enduring legacy of those whose service shaped both their families and history.

About Geoffrey Spinks

Geoffrey Spinks was born near London during the Second World War. Following an international career as a Dairy Technologist and Technical Consultant, he turned to writing during semi-retirement. His novels include the science fiction title 2084 and the historical novel The CPO & The Wren, inspired by the wartime experiences of his parents.