Isle of Wight authors, Carol and Bob Bridgestock have spearheaded a campaign to help victims of the floods in West Yorkshire. Ed
What started as a bid by local crime writers RC Bridgestock to restock a flooded bookshop in Hebden Bridge and save it from closure, is now stretching its reach to help a cricket club in Sowerby Bridge, that has literally disappeared under the same deluge in the past week.
A host of sportsmen and writers from the whole of the sporting hall of fame are giving rare, signed copies of books to an eBay auction and the couple hope this project helps in some small way, to bring Sowerby Bridge Cricket Club back from the brink.
Community spirit
No one reading the news over the past weeks can be surprised at the generosity and strength of spirit shown across the country, but they may be interested in what is on offer with signed titles from the likes of Simon Jones (The Test) and Nigel Owens (Half Time: My Autobiography) and Ed Ceasar (Two Hours).
The below have all been donated by Goldsboro Books, London from their exclusive limited editions collections:
- Bernard Cornwell – Warriors of the Storm (Signed first edition)
- Ryan Gattis – All Involved (Exclusive signed and numbered slipcase edition /500)
- The Book of Memory – Petina Gappah (Signed first edition)
- Hugh Howey – Sand (Exclusive signed and numbered slipcase edition /500)
- Rachel Joyce – The Love Song of Miss Queenie Hennessy (Exclusive signed and numbered slipcase edition /500)
- Award winning author Stephen Cooper donated The Final Whistle and After the Final Whistle
- The Legend of Lord Morvidus, for child sporting fiends, signed by illustrator Jim Troughton former Captain of Warwickshire Cricket Club, which is about a young cricketer conquering his fears to play in his first match.
Gary James has donated rare, sought after signed copies of books – one Manchester ‘The City Years’ is his last remaining copy and he will sign and dedicate it to the winner.
This has attracted £100 from former England and Manchester City Footballer Francis Lee (Franny Lee), within minutes of the auction going live on Twitter.
And there’s more
There are more signed books on offer from many more writers like Sebastian Faulks Jonathan Wilson, Tom Holland and the Authors Cricket Club Captain and London Literary Agent Charlie Campbell have signed Authors X1.
The Bridgestocks have also been contacted by other high profile writers and are very excited about titles yet to be announced.
A tragedy for local communities
Carol Bridgestock, one of the authors behind this amazing scheme, says she and her husband, Bob, a crime writing duo from Yorkshire, were racking their brains about what they might do to help.
She said,
“Bob and I spent almost half a century between us working for West Yorkshire Police and helping police the Calder Valley. This is a tragedy for local communities where a sports club is the glue knitting together young and old alike and keeping people together.
“We hope the sale will give back where it is needed and help the club get back on its feet. Sowerby Bridge Cricket Club has been part of our life since I was a little girl and my brother is the Chair. This club means so much to our family, former colleagues and friends. We will not let it go.”
Chairman Stephen Jordan said,
“Words fail me. We can’t thank these guys enough!”
Find out more
For more information or how to support this endeavour please go to eBay
Bidding opened at 12:00 on 3rd January 2016.
Any author wishing to donate a book please get in touch with Carol Bridgestock @ [email protected] or via their website www.rcbridgestock.com Telephone 07884553698
