A SELECTION of books written by the late author, journalist and Craven Herald contributor W R (Bill) Mitchell MBE have been re-published.

Bill, who died aged 87 in 2015, started his career as a reporter on the Craven Herald in 1943; but his journalism career was halted for two years when he served with the Royal Navy. On being demobbed, he returned to the Herald and in 1948, was invited to join the The Dalesman magazine, then based in Clapham.

He stayed there until his retirement, 40 years later, including 18 years as its editor. For many years he single-handedly edited The Dalesman and its companion magazine, Cumbria, covering an area from Solway Firth to the Humber.

He was a regular contributor to the Craven Herald history pages right up until his death - writing on the people and traditions of the Dales.

His work was recognised in 1996 with an MBE from the Queen and an Honorary Doctorate of Letters from the University of Bradford. In 2009, he was named Yorkshire Dales National Park's greatest living cultural icon.

Bill’s remarkable achievements over many decades allowed him to gather many stories from Dales folk and he was able to bring out the great humour that existed in ordinary life on a farm, in a hamlet or repairing limestone walls.

The four republished books are: Nobbut Middlin’; Summat & Nowt; Nowt's Same, and How they Lived in the Yorkshire Dales

Published by Kingfisher Productions, they are available at £9.99 from: www.railwayvideo.com