West Craven
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Author's last wish is granted
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| Ken Wilson |
The final book written by a Barnoldswick author, who died earlier this year, is to be published.
Ken Wilson died in January, shortly after he made an appeal in the Craven Herald to get his final book, Year of Three Kings - Barnoldswick in 1936, into print.
Now, thanks to anonymous donations, 100 limited editions of the book have been published.
Mr Wilson, an historian and author, wrote the book using archived editions of the Craven Herald and his own personal experiences.
The book links national events to Barnoldswick, detailing them through the eyes and opinions of Mr Wilson's family.
Mr Wilson was born in Barnoldswick in 1923 and lived in the town until 1950.
The book is a study of the year 1936 and the conditions that prevailed in the area at that time.
It was the year that the Spitfire made its first flight and war with the Nazis seemed inevitable, both of which shaped Barnoldswick's future in aviation manufacture.
Mr Wilson's wife, Sheila, said that for many years her husband's 1936 clippings from the Herald were filed away.
"In 2006, the 70th anniversary of the year of three Kings, he decided that he would write the book using the items reported in that eventful year.
"On reflection, he believed that the year was of tremendous significance to Barnoldswick's development."
Mrs Wilson said that the book recorded how life was changing in the once major cotton weaving town and how her husband's parents related to the changes.
"This book is biographic and Ken, with his own dry humour, painfully remembers how it was to be nearly 13 years old and gives a vivid account of what it was like to live in Barnoldswick at a crucial time in its history."
Fay Oldland, of Pendle Heritage Trust, said it was good news that the book had been published.
"We tried to get it off the ground last year, but nothing was forthcoming. After the appeal in the paper, a number of people came forward with offers to help. That is why we have been able to publish the limited editions," she said.
Mr Wilson had 17 books published over the past 25 years.
Two of these, My Days are Swifter than a Weaver's Shuttle and The Wreck of the Rohilla, were about the history of Barnoldswick.
A Year of Three Kings - Barnoldswick in 1936 will have its official launch in Barnoldswick Library next Saturday, May 17, from 1pm to 3pm.
"We wanted to make sure that local people had the first opportunity to buy a copy," said Mrs Oldland.
All proceeds from the book will go to Barnoldswick's Bancroft Mill Trust, in which Mr Wilson took a great interest.
5:14pm Friday 9th May 2008
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