If it looks like a local history book and feels like a local history book, then it must be a local history book. But this book belongs to the 'Fact Free' school of history pioneered by the Tripe Marketing Board.Lancashire Life magazine called it 'comedy genius', and two dozen 5 star Amazon reviewers have agreed.
From the Back Cover:
Lancashire. The very word conjures up images of cotton mills, coal mines and the Co-operative Movement. But think again.
This is Forgotten Lancashire, the home of Uncle Bill's Meat-Free Meatballs, fridge magnets and the Competitive Movement.
This is a book about ordinary people. People like you and me who plough the fields, mine the coal and stamp the library books. People who walk around in the summer with their tops off.
"If you thought Sir Walter Raleigh invented the bicycle then this book is for you" Martin Sixsmith. "History was never meant to be so interesting" Professor Eric Hobnob. "A wonderful, majestic tour de force" Nataya Ripley.
Forgotten Lancashire - fact free history at its best. "A dozen laughs a page" The Wigan Observer*
* approx 0.8p per laugh
About the Author: Derek J Ripley has an unrivalled passion for local history that dates back longer than he can remember. Born in Preston but brought up in Manchester and Wigan, he has lived at various times in virtually every major conurbation in north west England - and quite a few minor ones.
He now lives in Birkenhead and commutes daily to his job as a local government librarian in Morecambe, which sadly leaves him little time to pursue his favourite pastimes, which include crown green bowling, cycling and camping.
Derek has published widely on local history matters, earning him the soubriquet 'Mister History' in his local pub where he is vice-captain of the quiz team. He is passionate about books (his favourite novelist is Patricia Highsmith) and bookshops - particularly when they champion local history and have a good café. Derek likes nothing better than sitting down in a bookshop with a nice café latte and a couple of good history books.
He is an avid listener - and sometime contributor to - local radio. He is married to Nataya whom he met at a local history convention in Bangkok in 2008. His most recent publication, The Lost Films of 20th Century Spatchcock, tells the story of a long-lost film studio in the north west of England.
