East Lancashire literary legend Ron strolls to book number 100 (From Lancashire Telegraph)

East Lancashire literary legend Ron strolls to book number 100

7:00pm Tuesday 9th October 2012 in News By Jessica Cree, Education reporter

AN EAST Lancashire literary legend is celebrating after releasing his 100th book.

Lancashire Telegraph ‘Nature’ and ‘Drive and Stroll’ writer Ron Freethy’s centenary title is called Yorkshire at War and tells how the county dealt with the outbreak of the Second World War.

But not satisfied with 100 titles, 76-year-old Ron, who lives in Roughlee, has gone on to contribute to The Big Book of Favourite Yorkshire Tales and write Memories of the Yorkshire Fishing Industry, and Cheshire: The Secret War, which are due to be released in November.

His 100 books have included subjects as diverse and walks, wildlife, nature and history.

History enthusiast Ron said: “The fact that somebody is publishing my books is fantastic, but I would still write even if they didn’t.

“It is a bit compulsive.

“I don’t have to think about it now, I write what I feel like every day.

“If it is rubbish, I bin it, if it is good, I keep it. Inspiration doesn’t really come into it if I have got a deadline.

“It is no good saying you don’t feel like it, it has got to be ready, there is no point in waiting for inspiration.”

Originally a biologist, Ron worked on many river clean-ups at home and abroad, including the River Mersey basin campaign, which won the Riverprize for best river clean-up in the world.

His travels often took him to Australia and he began much of his writing on those long flights in the 1980s.

During that period he also branched into broadcasting and worked for Granada TV, presenting documentaries and the children’s programme The 8.15 from Manchester.

But Ron, who lives with his wife Marlene and dog Inka, said he has no plans to give up writing any time soon.

He said: “I am very passionate about my writing, it is a combination of pleasure and work.

I have been contracted to write for the next three years, so I am going to be very busy.”

Yorkshire at War and The Big Book of Yorkshire Tales are published by Dalesman and are available to buy now at all good bookshops.

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