What issue of N16 Magazine would be complete without a reference to the number 73 bus - either the lost and lamented old Routemasters or the often reviled bendy upstarts that replaced it?

Happily this is a chance to diversify on the theme slightly, as local author Travis Elborough's new book - the delightfully named The Bus We Loved: London's Affair with the Routemaster - is published this month.

The Bus We Loved charts the history of the iconic London Routemaster as the last few are phased out and replaced by the new buses. In his fond reminiscence, Elborough reflects on the cultural significance of this lasting symbol of London, from their birthplace at Chiswick works in the early 1950s through to the last journeys on the 73 and 390 routes and the poignant observation from one of the retiring drivers that 'they won't be heading north again now'.

The Bus We Loved's strength lies in the careful contextualisation of the Routemaster historically, politically and culturally - whilst also containing sufficient mechanical detail to satisfy the true bus aficionados. London Transport's policy of recruiting Barbadian staff - many of whom had a miserable time on arriving on a foreign and not always hospitable island - the shift in labour patterns and the ascendance of the car as the ultimate status symbol are all referred to.

London's status as the epicentre of cool in the swinging sixties was undeniable, and red hop-on hop-off buses took a starring role in the visual representation of this from stock images of Carnaby Street to Alfie. And even Summer Holiday, although Sir Cliff's bus was not a Routemaster.

Packed with interesting little facts such as (one of my favourites) the fact that the colour red became so synonymous with the Routemaster that Chanel has a nail polish called London Bus Red and the brief outing of the Silver Lady (an unpainted, aluminium Routemaster) which had to be withdrawn as allegedly in foggy weather the bus was liable to vanish from sight, The Bus We Loved is a charming read. Comparisons are drawn with the cable cars in San Francisco and the gondolas in Venice. The Routemaster is perceived by many of the people Elborough interviews as being integral to the cultural heritage of London. And I'm in complete agreement. I'm just glad I moved to London before they all disappeared.

Published by Granta, £12

First and foremost this is not a standard boxing memoir: rather it is a story of one man's determination to overcome all the odds in the greatest fight of his life.

Born at the Mother's Hospital, Clapton, in 1965, Michael's early life was spent living in Rectory Road, his parents having come to England from Jamaica the previous year. The first chapter provides a fascinating insight into the Afro-Caribbean community in Stoke Newington in the mid 1960s with a strong religious flavour. The book follows his boxing journey from his schoolboy matches up to his world title fight challenges. He lost very few along the way.

Michael Watson was believed by many to be within minutes of defeating Chris Eubank for the WBO Super-Middleweight Championship of the World on the night of 21 September 1991 at White Hart Lane. During the penultimate round Eubank landed a right to Watson's head sending him reeling to the ropes. However, Michael fought back and it was Eubank who fell to his knees before Eubank again caught Michael. The round was scored a draw.

The bell rang for the start of the twelfth round and both fighters took to the centre of the ring. The book describes in harrowing detail the final seconds before Michael Watson's world changed forever. The blows that he had received in round eleven had, unbeknown to anyone, caused massive damage to his brain. He simply could not fight on, and his team jumped into the ring ending the fight, but at that moment Michael started on his biggest fight ever. He was to undergo a number of operations on his brain and spend weeks in a coma and many months in hospital. During the early days after the fight the medical team were not sure that he would survive. And even if he did live there was great concern as to any quality of life. His friends and family always kept their faith that he would recover

The second half of the book is an outstanding tale of determination to defy the constraints of a body, which could only function at a very basic level. When he left hospital he was in a wheel chair unable to walk, talk or do anything for himself.
With sheer determination and the support of a close knit circle Michael's fight-back is told in a very humble yet uplifting way. Whatever problems you might have in life, this is a story which shows that the impossible is not always impossible.

The sheer fact that Michael was ten years on able to walk a few feet is remarkable. That one-year later in 2003 on with encouragement from Peter Hamlyn, the neurosurgeon who had saved his life, Michael Watson was to become the slowest person to complete the gruelling London Marathon in 6 days, 27 minutes and seventeen seconds is even more remarkable.

You don't have to be a fight fan to be uplifted by Michael's story. I bumped into Michael and Lennard, his long time right hand man, at the Blue Legume a few weeks ago and I got the distinct impression that this is a very unfinished tale of guts and determination. I wonder what he's planning next.

Time Warner Books, £7.99