I retired as a medic in 2011. I gave up playing rugby aged 44 and cricket aged 60. I’ve sung baritone with New Mill MVC since 1994. I learned to write sentences at Huddersfield New College in the 1950s, starting a diary in 1990. Since then I’ve tried to write regularly.
Our contact with history professor Paul Ward happily continues with this review from a member of his staff at Edge Hill University.
The Seventeenth century is often a fertile ground for our imaginations and mining historical tidbits. That may be why the new book by John Cross is so engrossing and informative. It is entitled ‘The Curate and the King’s Coin’ and is a narrative of the misdemeanours of The Reverend Edmund Robinson, his arrest and execution. Cross’ book is a charming portrait of early modern English history and is peppered with local anecdotes, maps and paraphernalia. However, Cross’ book is much more and using primary records it reveals a hidden aspect of seventeenth-century life.
It is the kind of England very familiar to this reviewer, where kings, queens and great battles are absent, or bystanders. Cross, tantalisingly, exposes this England through his intrepid investigation of local history. His results may at first reveal a patchwork, but once reassembled we get a new narrative – not only of rural Yorkshire, but of England itself. The potency of Cross’ book is the reason why independent publishers such as Shalliley Books are at the dynamic end of publishing. This is the type of book which would be unlikely to be commissioned by a major mainstream publisher, and if they did, it would lose its niche-local charm.
Dr Onyeka Nubia, Visiting Research Fellow, Edge Hill University, Visiting Research Fellow, University of Huddersfield, Director of Studies, Narrative Eye.
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Shalliley Books’ latest offering is now available.
Edmund Robinson was a 17th century rogue curate. He began his life of crime with false marriages and finished with counterfeiting coins for which he was executed.
An intriguing Holme Valley character, vividly described by John Cross, a local historian and archaeologist.
Price £9.99 from John 01484666528, Shalliley Books 01481683196 and Amazon.
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Posted by Dave Walker 1.11.2019
We have had several commercial printers since 2011. Starting with Pete Davies’ cricket book, we obviously used the university press (incidentally closing recently with Amadeus the beneficiary). I simply didn’t know enough despite writing a short pamphlet about Almondbury Casuals and completing a publishing module at Sheffield Hallam. Needless to say I was a quick study. Proof-reading was the first thing. Stephen Chalke, a publisher colleague, said “get a digital print company”. So I did. They were great for me, but ran into asbestos trouble. I followed their side shoot, but that fell over as well. So it’s Amadeus, which I found by chance. Their proof copy was fine and so we took a punt. And we went to see them. David Crossland and Richard Lambert.
David’s been a printer man and boy with Netherwood’s. Weird as the Casuals’ pamphlet was a follow up to Cricket in Perspective by Jim Netherwood. I remember him both from Huddersfield RUFC and Almondbury Casuals. We played a regular memorial fixture for Jim’s son with Wealdstone Corinthians. Jim turned out to play, though latterly, prior to his death, he struggled with mobility. You can read a short biography here.
So having connected and recapped it was time for a tour – great. Gave John, the writer, some ideas for his archaeological journal. I think we have hit on a winner.
I did think about a pic of Mozza.
53.571744
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John Cross was born in 1947 at Clatterbridge, Poulton-cum-Spital, on the Wirral. He was educated at The Wirral Grammar School, and at St. Catherine’s College, Oxford. Having graduated in Geography, he then took a Certificate in Education at the University’s Department of Education. His first teaching post was in 1970 at Huddersfield New College, after which he transferred to the 11-18 Comprehensive sector. Having taught briefly at Honley High School he then became Head Of Geography at The Brooksbank School, a post he held for over twenty seven years.
Following his retirement in 2007, he retrained in Archaeology, with a qualification from the Open University, and from the Oxford University Department for Continuing Education. Practical experience was gained through the York Trust Hungate Dig, after which he was a volunteer working with The Durham and Northumberland Architectural and Archaeological Society, The North Pennine Partnership and the Dig Greater Manchester project. He has lived in the Holme Valley for over thirty years and is now the President of the Huddersfield and District Archaeological Society.
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The flyer is self-explanatory – please note the dates- release and launch
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Great turnout for the ribbon-cutting. After 5 years of fund raising, planning and building, the Pavilion committee proudly opened the renovated Honley CC pavilion. We contributed in a small way and sponsored a brick.
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Great turnout for the ribbon-cutting. After 5 years of fund raising, planning and building, the Pavilion committee proudly opened the renovated Honley CC pavilion. We contributed in a small way and sponsored a brick.
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The group overseeing fundraising for the pavilion restoration have finally got the go ahead. Building starts in September.
They are also exploring smaller projects by way of thanking contributors, growing good will within the community and advertising what is happening. Hence a ‘sponsor a brick’ campaign – tel David Hutchinson 07801522321.
For more info on the whole story, contact – chrishumphries@sky.com
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Shalliley Books 