BOOKS
Curl up with a good book... If you love delving into history, visiting pubs (when we can) or if fiction is more your thing, then read on to find out how to win one of these fascinating books that reveal different aspects of the Peak District National Park.
When the Stars Went On by Anne de Waal Independently published, £4.99, available from bookstores This is Anne de Waal’s first novel for children. It is a story of loss, courage, kindness and hope, told from the point of view of two children: Isaac, a Polish refugee, rendered mute by ‘The Great Sadness’, and Anna Elizabeth, his English friend. The pair develop a close bond through time spent with Anna Elizabeth’s pet spaniel, Shell. There is love and loss as the children navigate the grown-up world and learn to find light in darkness, tolerance and understanding.
T
he twentieth anniversary of the Countryside & Rights of Way (CRoW) Act in 2020 provides a good opportunity to look back on the doughty band of campaigners who fought for so long to give ramblers their cherished right to roam. This century-old battle brought to the fore a number of larger-than-life characters who were prepared to go to extreme lengths–in some cases even imprisonment–to reclaim the right of access which were taken from the people by the hated Enclosure Acts of the eighteenth and nineteenth centuries. This book describes the life and work of twenty of these “wilderness warriors”, retelling the battles they fought against seemingly intractable politicians and the Establishment and includes memories of personal encounters by the author with many of them. From the nature-loving romantic poet John Clare and access pioneers such as Tom Stephenson and Benny Rothman, to present-day activists and writers such as Jim Perrin, Fiona Reynolds and Kate Ashbrook, Walking Class Heroes describes the contributions made by philanthropists, writers and political militants. Their battlegrounds included the Peak District, Dartmoor and Scotland and their tactics encompassed campaigning journalism, legal dexterity and even mass trespass. Some are no longer with us of course, but several others are continuing the fight for the same kind of public access to the countryside currently enjoyed by our neighbours in Scotland and the rest of Europe.
ROLY SMITH was recently described by a reviewer as “one of Britain’s most knowledgeable countryside writers”. He has written over ninety books on the British countryside and is vicepresident of the Outdoor Writers’ and Photographers’ Guild, having been its president for twelve years, and is also a member of the British Guild of Travel Writers. A journalist by training, Roly was Head of Information Services for the Peak District National Park for thirteen years, where he became known as “Mr Peak District”.
www.signalbooks.co.uk
WALKING
CLASS
HEROES PIONEERS OF THE RIGHT TO ROAM
Foreword by Stuart Maconie
Peak District Pubs – a pint-sized history by Andrew McCloy Gritstone Publishing, £11.99, gritstonecoop.co.uk Along with other businesses pubs have had a tough time during the pandemic, but Andrew McCloy says that they play a vital economic and social role in rural areas like the Peak District and he celebrates their rich heritage in this book. It traces the evolution of ‘the local’ from humble alehouse to modern roadhouse, and along the way takes in everything from haunted pubs and theme pubs through to new community-owned pubs and micro pubs. There’s an explanation of pub names and signs, revealing loyalties to crown, church and squire, and an introduction to a few pub heroes and villains, rituals and merry-making. www.peakdistrict.gov.uk
PIONEERS OF THE RIGHT TO ROAM
ROLY SMITH
Foreword by Stuart Maconie
We have three copies of Walking Class Heroes to give away. For a chance to win, please answer the question:
Roly Smith looks back on the campaigners who fought ROLY SMITH for so long to give ramblers their cherished right to roam. From nature-loving romantic poet John Clare and access pioneers such as Tom Stephenson and Benny Rothman, to present-day activists and writers such as Jim Perrin, Fiona Reynolds and Kate Ashbrook, Walking Class Heroes describes the contributions made by philanthropists, writers and political militants. Their battlegrounds included the Peak District, Dartmoor and Scotland and their tactics encompassed campaigning journalism, legal dexterity and even mass trespass.
34
HEROES
WIN!
Q: Which real county is home to the fictional Peak District village this story is set in?
ROLY SMITH
Signal, £9.99, www.signalbooks.co.uk
CLASS
We have a review copy of When the Stars Went On to give away. For a chance to win, please answer the following question:
PIONEERS OF THE RIGHT TO ROAM
by Roly Smith
WALKING
Book giveaways
WALKING CLASS HEROES
Walking Class Heroes: Pioneers of the Right to Roam
www.signalbooks.co.uk
ROLY SMITH
ROLY SMITH was recently described by a reviewer as “one of Britain’s most knowledgeable countryside writers”. He has written over ninety books on the British countryside and is vicepresident of the Outdoor Writers’ and Photographers’ Guild, having been its president for twelve years, and is also a member of the British Guild of Travel Writers. A journalist by training, Roly was Head of Information Services for the Peak District National Park for thirteen years, where he became known as “Mr Peak District”.
PIONEERS OF THE RIGHT TO ROAM
he twentieth anniversary of the Countryside & Rights of Way (CRoW) Act in 2020 provides a good opportunity to look back on the doughty band of campaigners who fought for so long to give ramblers their cherished right to roam. This century-old battle brought to the fore a number of larger-than-life characters who were prepared to go to extreme lengths–in some cases even imprisonment–to reclaim the right of access which were taken from the people by the hated Enclosure Acts of the eighteenth and nineteenth centuries. This book describes the life and work of twenty of these “wilderness warriors”, retelling the battles they fought against seemingly intractable politicians and the Establishment and includes memories of personal encounters by the author with many of them. From the nature-loving romantic poet John Clare and access pioneers such as Tom Stephenson and Benny Rothman, to present-day activists and writers such as Jim Perrin, Fiona Reynolds and Kate Ashbrook, Walking Class Heroes describes the contributions made by philanthropists, writers and political militants. Their battlegrounds included the Peak District, Dartmoor and Scotland and their tactics encompassed campaigning journalism, legal dexterity and even mass trespass. Some are no longer with us of course, but several others are continuing the fight for the same kind of public access to the countryside currently enjoyed by our neighbours in Scotland and the rest of Europe.
WALKING CLASS HEROES
T
WIN!
Q: Where did the 1932 Mass Trespass on Kinder Scout set out from? We have two copies of Peak District Pubs to give away. For a chance to win, please answer the question:
WIN!
Q: What is the name of the historic inn that was demolished in 1943 to make way for the new Ladybower Reservoir? • Please email your answers – with your name, address and telephone number – to: parklife@peakdistrict.gov.uk • Write either Walking Class Heroes, Peak District Pubs, or When the Stars Went On in the subject line. • The closing date for entries is Friday 26th August, 2021. Winners will be selected at random after this date. The competition is open to everyone except PDNPA paid staff.
