Author

[Martin]

As I now have to approve new members manually, as part of the constant battle against spammers, I think it is likely that we will shortly see a message here from Pat herself...

[Denise]

Hi Joyce, Thanks for the link.  Also to Martin - looking forward to Pat's return as I missed her first time round.  Denise

[Meg]

Good to hear about 'Patricia' although sad that her book wasn't accepted. I hope she perseveres as there's a market for historical fiction I'm sure.

[burlington]

There is actually far more in print about Ashton than you might imagine. If you go to Amazon and search for Ashton-under-Lyne in the books section it lists almost 150 entries. Of course most of the entries are for local government reports, or books of local history etc.

The only novel that I have ever read that is set in Ashton is Mr Wroe's Virgins by Jane Rogers (originally a southerner, but later a resident of Mossley), but that was published in 1990 (I think), and was made into a TV series in 1993. I do keep up with the book reviews but I haven't seen anything recently that refers specifically to Ashton.

There is a new novel just out and well worth a read. It's by Ken Fairbrother who was born and brought up in Ashton and lived in Tameside until recent years. His novel, A Vision of School, is based on the life story of his wife, formerly Mary Abbot, and her bravery and triumph in the face of great odds. A proportion of the book's action is set in Ashton and lots of readers will certainly recognise the references. It can be got from Amazon and W H Smith I think soon.

[Bill]

It seems to be currently availably in WH Smith's burlington.

[burlington]

Thanks, Bill. I wasn't sure if it had hit the shelves there yet. Burlington.

[jan]

Also available from http://www.bookdepository.co.uk/

[burlington]

Thank-you . Hadn't heard of this company. Burlington.

[Ashtonian54]

http://www.alibris.co.uk/booksearch.detail?invid=10187775875&cm_mmc=shopcompare-_-base-_-aisbn2-_-na



quote
"
Mary Abbott's early life was, as the author says, fraught with all sorts of disadvantages, which she laughed off cheerfully. A baby boomer from working-class Lancaster, Mary was born different: she was blind in one eye and partially sighted in the other. In the early 1950s, aged just four, she was packed off to a special boarding school in Devon. Her resilience and good humour, as she progressed from school to school, forming friendships, getting into scrapes, discovering boys and reaching out into the world of work, are recorded here in her own pithy words. How she survived both a painful operation on her feet and her mother's departure with a fancy man are signs of her determination. She grew up, married and became a mother, found work and fund-raised for the RNIB, and finally married the author. He has dedicated her inspirational story to 'her beautiful memory'. Mary is no longer with us, but these vivid words of hers will ensure she stays in our thoughts. Kenneth R Fairbrother was born in 1951 in Ashton-under-Lyne. He started working life in heavy engineering, married and raised two sons. After divorcing, he married Mary and they lived in Stalybridge until her passing. Since then he has remarried and now lives in cornwall with his wife. This is where he set down this account, written mainly by Mary.
"

[Fudge]

Some people are very talented and can set books out with no trouble. I bought a book yesterday the History of Elgin St and when it became Canon Johnsons one of the I T specialists that comes in to school collated all the info and photo's and it has been put in headings From when it was opened and the History . Then it gives events in yrs like 1910 -1918, 1919 - 1938 and so on My photo of my medal and coronation mug are in and my memories of the school. Read it twice already. I don,t mind doing small pieces of writing and I have got another story in this yrs free History Around Tameside magazine you can pick one up at the Archives at the Library it is a very good reading. Fudge

[Martin]

Indeed, Fudge - it even has two contributions from me!

The "Vision of School" book is also available from Amazon, although it is not reduced there yet, like it is at the WH Smith web site, although UK postage is free at Amazon but not free at Smiths, unless you add some more items.

There is a link on the Ashton website - click "Shop" at the very top of this page. Buying things through the links on that page will raise a few pennies towards the cost of running the site!