Now let Spielberg film tale of Falklands War

I HAVE just finished reading Four Weeks in May and, as a result, can only describe it as not only enjoyable but it also rekindled my pride in having served in the Royal Navy between 1957–64.

It is the story of the sinking of HMS Coventry on May 25 1982, during the Falklands War, written by her Captain at the time, David Hart Dyke, published in 2007 by Atlantic Books.

The cover describes it as this: “It is the tale of a proud fighting ship of the Royal Navy and of the complex ties that bind a commander and his crew, especially in times of mortal danger.

“It is also the record of one man’s private anxieties about his responsibilities as Captain, the welfare of his men, and his wife and two young daughters back home.”

How does this tie in with Steven Spielberg? Tony Earnshaw’s piece on War Horse (Yorkshire Post, January 11) had some great quotes which, with the remaining detail, convinced me Four Weeks in May has all the ingredients Spielberg seems to look for in a story to attract him to convert it to the screen.

During my seven years’ Royal Navy service, there were odd times when we came near to conflict in reality.

The unloading of practice ammunition and taking on live shells focuses the mind and you hope your training drills will be good enough when the time comes.

You look at your officers and wonder if they will be of the calibre to see you through. I can say that I did have one Skipper who I feel sure would have been a Captain in the Hart Dyke mould; steadfast and brave to the very end.

All we need to do now is to get Spielberg to read the book and another smash hit film will follow.