Due to recent events, I will not be publishing the new version of my book until the time is right for me.  I am not sure who, if anyone, reads this blog but I intend to share with you some truths so that you all know what has occurred since my book, In a League of Their Own! was first published in 1994. Prior to that date, a complete history of the Dick, Kerr Ladies simply did not exist.  I now feel I have to protect all the new information I have about the ladies because once I set it free, there are those out there who will exploit my work without acknowledgement and use it as if it was their own.  So I would like to put on record, here on my own website, that I have never agreed for anyone to use my work without my written consent.

Several years ago another book was published about the Dick, Kerr Ladies.  In this publication, the author claimed to have undertaken a great deal of their own research, but surprisingly they failed to uncover any new material about the team other than what had already been published in my book!  And the author also made several wrong assumptions about at least one of the star players to create a fictional story.  They also used extracts from my book which were taken from my own personal interviews with the 'real' ladies who played for the team.  The author could never have uncovered these stories for themselves.  Acknowledgement and thanks was given to the librarian at the library in Pawtucket.  I made contact with the same gentleman who made available the little information held in their archives.  I was surprised at just how little there was!  A copy was made of the 1920 picture of the French team from my book and published it in their own.  The original photograph is still in my possession in my personal collection.  If I owned a painting by Picasso or Monnet or Van Gough, I know I would not own the copyright but the painting would still be my property and I would hope to have some rights over its use by others.   I will leave you to draw your own conclusions regarding the morals and ethics of this kind of journalism.

My book, In a League of Their Own!, was published in November of 1994 by Pride of Place Publishing.  The book launch was held at my place of work and it was truly amazing.  A night like that would never happen again.  The star studded guest list simply blew me away and everyone was eager to be there for the Dick, Kerr Ladies.  Granada Television was also on hand to record this most memorable occasion.  However, it wasn't long before everything turned sour.  The publisher failed to pay my employers for the cost of the evening despite having received my half share for the cost of the event.  Pride of Place were sent at least three invoices reminding them of the debt but still refused to pay anything.  Then out of the blue in the summer of 1995, an invoice totaling £1200.00 for the total cost of the book launch, that had previously been sent to Pride of Place Publishing,  landed on my doormat with my name on it and no one would tell me why!!  I was obviously the soft target to recover the money and several traumatic months followed before I was issued with a Court Summons.  My employer accused me of  'appearing to organise the event without intending to pay'.  I couldn't believe the heavy handed treatment they meted out to me and their actions made me quite ill.  Eventually, my Dad gave me the money to pay them and get them off my back but I still wear the scars from the whole experience.  And for evidence I have saved the bounced cheques given me by the publisher, who soon went into liquidation still owing me a considerable amount of money.  I have never received a penny piece from them from that day to this.

In the summer of 1994 I was contacted by a reporter from the Lancashire Evening Post.  He was doing a story about Joan Whalley and wanted some photographs from her playing days with the team.  In good faith, I loaned him three photographs which he returned to me the following week.  A year later the Lancashire Evening Post published a book for sale, 'Images of Preston' and they included in this publication the three photographs I had loaned to them.  At no time was I asked for the use of, or credited as the donor in this book.  It was re-published for sale in 2006, and again my pictures were used with no request or acknowledgement of the source.  I have repeatedly asked the Lancashire Evening Post to at the very least credit me as donor, or mention my book or website, but all these requests have been ignored.  They continue to use my pictures because they say I do not own the copyright.  I will reiterate my comments above:  were I to own an original painting by Picasso or Van Gough would their reproduction be free for all to use as they wish?  I will try to resist any comparison with the Murdoch methods of newspaper management but wonder whether they are all capable of the same.

The aftermath of my experience with Pride of Place Publishing and the callous treatment I had received from my employer left me totally devastated.  I felt the book was tarnished and had to distance myself from it.  I set about uncovering more information about the Dick, Kerr Ladies and was also contacted by Real Life Productions at Yorkshire Television who showed interest in making a documentary about the team. It would have been a wonderful opportunity had they had the finance to proceed with the project while many of the ladies were still alive, but it fell by the wayside.  It had though, shown some of the potential that was possible because of my book, and I am sure others might have seen a golden opportunity if they were to be involved with this story.   I thought I was fortunate when Scarlett Press showed interest in publishing the newest edition of my work and hoped this would be the answer to my prayers.  They did publish my book in 1997 and it was very well received.  I even had a phone call from one of the guys who used to work me and who had let me down when I needed his help against my employer.  He heard a broadcast on the radio after the books publication and actually telephoned me at work to apologise for his lack of help while he was in a position to make a difference.  He said, 'I could have handled it better'.  Something of an understatement but at least he was sorry for letting me down and I was grateful for that.

Disappointment was to follow once more when the publisher ceased publishing books and started a new life as a hotelier in Europe.  This resulted in little or no real representation for my book and I felt as though I had been left high and dry.  I eventually set up this website to reach a wider audience to promote the Dick, Kerr Ladies myself.

More to follow: