Ian at his desk at Goldeneye, Jamaica

Ian Fleming was born on May 28th 1908, and so 2008 marks the centenary of his birth.  It is a good time to pay homage to Ian Fleming and to celebrate the creator of James Bond,  the best-known secret agent in the world, number 007.
 
People the world over know the name James Bond.   His adventures, whether in a book, or a comic strip, or in any of the hugely enjoyable films starring actors from Sean Connery to Daniel Craig today, have been enjoyed by an enormous number of people over several generations.
 
James Bond is a British cultural phenomenon, and he has undoubtedly enhanced the reputation of her Majesty's Secret Service throughout the world.
 
The aims of the year are to show where James Bond came from, and how he started life 50 years ago - in the novel, Casino Royale; to show a little of the history of this much-loved and legendary spy and of the man who dreamed him up.

It is also hoped that this year will draw attention to other aspects of Ian’s life, from his achievements in Naval Intelligence during the war to his work as a journalist and travel writer. The aim is to give the public greater understanding of the man behind Bond.
 
Unlike James Bond, Ian Fleming, suffered from poor health, and in particular heart disease. One of the chief aims of the year is to raise money for the British Heart Foundation, in particular to fund further pioneering research in Britain into heart disease.
 
During this Centenary year let’s toast Ian … with a martini.

'The name's Bond, James Bond.'