New book by Wainwright's friend shows quirky side of walker's life in Blackburn (From Lancashire Telegraph)

New book by Wainwright's friend shows quirky side of walker's life in Blackburn

9:20am Tuesday 3rd November 2009

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A QUIRKY insight into the life of Alfred Wainwright has been given in a new biography by his friend, renowned Yorkshire Dales writer Bill Mitchell.

It reveals how the legendary fell-walker and author was a big fan of Coronation Street, fish and chips...and Cornettos.

Wainwright: His Life from Milltown to Mountain, by journalist Mr Mitchell, follows Wainwright’s early life in Blackburn and sheds light on his personality, including his dislike of Gaelic names for Scottish mountains, sociable fell-walkers and bad grammar.

Mr Mitchell, from Giggleswick, was editor at the Dalesman and Cumbria magazines when he first met Wainwright in the late 1950s.

Now 81, he has written almost 200 books. He gathered most of the information for his latest venture from a small band of Wainwright’s closest friends.

The book, which tells of Wainwright’s early life in Blackburn and his passion for football, contains rarely seen photos of Wainwright’s childhood, ancestors and close family.

The author reveals how Wainwright met Betty, the “love of his life”, whilst he was still married to his first wife Ruth and finally married her in 1970.

There are details of Wainwright’s likes and dislikes – he loved fish and chips, and when asked what he would like at a presentation to mark 30 years with his publisher, he asked for four Cornettos.

Mr Mitchell said: “He was an unusual and brilliant person and never tried to impress anyone – he just got on with things.”

The book also documents how the shy, lone walker felt about the increasing media interest in him and his thoughts on the first BBC series “Walks with Wainwright”.

He said: “I was always struck by how amiable he was and how he was very modest about all his achievements.”

Wainwright, who died in 1991, worked for Backburn’s council as an accountant and began what he called his ‘love affair’ with the Lakes in 1930, after saving up for a week’s walking holiday there.

He was born in Audley Range in 1907, and is famous around the world for his pictorial guides to the Lake District.

And while Wainwright is mainly associated with fell walking, he also has strong links to Blackburn and was a founder member of the Blackburn Rovers Supporters’ Association.

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