Stokesley Scene

The book was launched at Stokesley Show with founders Peter Hallworth and Andrew Grass. William Hague, the MP, who wrote the forward met and talked to the people promoting the book.

Signings

Further signings are planned, and a small number of the limited edition series has not been released for sale, for this reason.

Evening Gazette article

"The Stokesley Scene was first published in March 1978 originally edited by Peter Hallworth, Toby Brehm, Andrew Grass and Eric Sandelands, all residents of Stokesley and three of whom were pupils at Stokesley Comprehensive School. With the title 'Local news and views' it sought to capture the spirit and oral history of the town during 1978 and 1979. Alec Wright, who made more than 200 contributions to The Dalesman was a mentor to the group. He provided articles and artwork and introducing the budding editors to Studio Print, then based in Great Ayton who published front and back covers for only the cost of the paper. The content of the magazine was produced on the school's Gestetner machine, and only appeared at all due to the typing skills of Mrs Gwen Grass and Mrs Edith Brehm who had to hit the keys hard to puncture the "skins" through which the ink flowed. Mr Peter Canwell, then headmaster of Stokesley County Primary School, famous in the area for his stage musicals including Rikki's Dream Journey, and Carrots, was another inspiration.The magazine was blessed with regular contributions from councillors Charlie Thompson, George Marsay and Edith Seaton on early 20th century life in the town and the origins of its societies, such as the Women's Institute. The schools, churches, scouts, civic society and others made regular contributions of news articles and features. Big characters in the town such as football hero George Hardwick gave their time for interview. To mark the thirtieth anniversary, a new book The Stokesley Scene Collection reproduces the eight original quarterly issues. It brings many of these stories up-to-date with what happened next, augments the original material with old and new photographs reflecting the past and present of the town. It seeks to capture the spirit of this Yorkshire market town.The Stokesley Scene Collection is due for publication in September 2008."