From Met police officer to black cab driver to pub landlord, Danny Kemp is perhaps one man who thought he had seen it all.

But the 62-year-old grandfather, from Wilmington, is about to see his first published novel take to the movie screen - all thanks to a chance meeting with a passenger in his cab.

Danny first took up writing after a car accident left him unable to work for more than three years.

His first attempt - called Look Both Ways and Then Look Behind - never made it to the book shelves, but he persevered with his writing to create The Desolate Garden.

It has been described as a spy murder-mystery and compared in reviews to classics such as The 39 Steps and North By Northwest.

But it was a brief encounter with a film producer in London that has led to Danny’s new venture.

“I picked him up in the street and took him to Victoria Station,” explained Danny.

“We got chatting about the book and he said he liked the brief outline and would be in touch. I didn’t think he ever would, but he read reviews on Amazon and a synopsis of the book on my website.

“He said he was interested in purchasing the rights and I have now signed an arrangement. Filming should start about this time next year in the UK and United Arab Emirates.”

Danny, who lives with wife Patsy, said he will leave the casting up to the movie-makers, although his step-daughter and granddaughter “would love a part”.

Asked how his family have reacted to his achievement, Danny said: “They find it weird, to be honest. People know me as the jokey London cab driver and now my story is going to be made into a film.

"if i can do it at 62 then anyone can. i didn’t even like writing at school…” – cabbie danny kemp

“I just hope what I’ve done will inspire others. If I can do it at 62 then anyone can. I didn’t even like writing at school.”

Although Danny concentrates on writing fiction, his own life story itself could make an exciting thriller. Having joined the police after leaving school, he then learned “The Knowledge” to become a licensed black cab driver.

His journey later saw him running three pubs near Maidstone and in the mid-1980s he was arrested for attempted murder after an altercation with customers he had barred from one of the pubs.

The charge was later reduced to malicious damage and Danny was given an absolute discharge by magistrates.

Despite his varied life, Danny doesn’t plan to write an autobiography.

“I’m not being modest, but I don’t think anyone would be interested in my life,” he said.

The Desolate Garden was launched in March and can be found in independent book shops as well as branches of Waterstone’s, including Bluewater.