Nostalgic cookbook is a recipe for success for mayor’s charity

Dewsbury in Food and Photos has been on sale for just over three weeks and has already raised £8,000 for the Forget Me Not Children’s Hospice.

The book of traditional recipes and old pictures of Dewsbury was written by the Reporter’s nostalgia columnist, and former deputy editor, Margaret Watson.

The book costs £10 and every penny of that goes to the charity, which was chosen by the Mayor of Kirkless Coun Eric Firth as his cause for the year. The cost of the book was covered by sponsorship from local businesses and organisations and outlets selling it are not taking a percentage.

Margaret said she was delighted by the response so far. She thanked everyone who had bought the book and offered to sell it.

She added: “Special thanks to WH Smith which has sold about £3,000 worth and not taken anything. That’s why we’ve been able to raise so much, because no-one is taking a percentage.

“The girls there work so hard and the manager was very good to allow us to sell them.”

Margaret said one family had bought about 30 copies of the book as they had spotted their grandfather in one of the pictures.

She added: “I’ve had people coming up to me and saying, ‘I’ve seen my old bedroom window’ in one of your pictures. It’s bringing back lots of memories.”

lThe book has a limited edition run of 2,000 copies. It is on sale at the Reporter offices, Wellington Road, Dewsbury; Dewsbury Minster; Dewsbury’s WH Smith; Dewsbury Museum; Red Brick Mill, Batley Carr, and the Women’s Centre in Wellington Road. Those who want the book to be delivered should email mwrecipebook@gmail.com.

Dewbury in Food and Photos will also be on sale today from 10.30am at Asda in Dewsbury.