Well over 100 people attended signing events in Shildon at the weekend for Mike Amos’s new book, All Change, comparing the town of his post-war formative years with the Shildon of today.
Described as “social history written lightly”, the 92,000-word, large format book embraces countless anecdotes of Shildon and its people ranging from Jenny Wren to Jack Watson and from George Reynolds to Bertha Abbott, who at the age of 90 sang “Daddy wouldn’t buy me a bow-wow” to open St John’s garden party.
Mike revisited the town throughout 2024, including retracing his 1960s pre-school milk round on the Jubilee Fields estate.
It was also bingo night at the Jubilee Fields community centre. He won.
The first signing event, on Saturday, ran alongside a church coffee morning organised by St John’s church warden Adele Todd and her team.
“I’ve attended very many similar occasions but never seen a spread like that one,” said Mike.
“Folk were buying stuff to take home.
“The corned beef pie was positively heavenly and the St John’s folk were fantastic.”
The second event was on Sunday lunchtime at the Railway Institute, attended by book buyers from as far afield as Stockton and Newcastle and even by former classmates at Timothy Hackworth juniors.
“Like the church coffee morning there was a fantastic atmosphere,” said Mike.
“Both were vivid reminders of what a cheery, friendly, community conscious place Shildon really is.”
After a working lifetime in journalism, mostly on the Northern Echo, Mike was made redundant at the age of 73.
He was seven times named North East Journalist of the Year and in 2006 appointed MBE for services to journalism.
Richly illustrated, All Change costs £13 plus £3.50 postage.
Further details are available by emailing mikeamos81[@]aol[.]com or from Mike at 8 Oakfields, Middleton Tyas, Richmond, North Yorkshire DL10 6SD.
Shildon & District's local community newspaper.
