Yorkshire in the sixties: coal pits, cotton mills, pie and peas, football pools and the gee-gees. If you’re lucky, like our hero, Rich, you get promoted from the workshop to a white-collar job. In fact, if you’re Rich, you’re very lucky indeed!

He wins on the horses, survives rejection by Jean, goes from cricketing stooge to ace catcher, moves up from a Hillman Minx to a Ford Cortina, and finds the love of his life… but can he keep her? Will his luck run out or will he show his true mettle and find the world is his oyster - along with the pearl?

Richard A Booth’s acutely observed story of young people in a Northern city undergoing a tide of change is humorous, touching and undeniably romantic. At its heart is a simplicity that is nostalgic and strangely endearing. Yes, we’ve all moved on from then, but have we moved anywhere better?

RICHARD A BOOTH was raised on the Wilton Estate, Batley, Yorkshire, by loving parents who did their best for him and his sister. He was educated at Carlingow J&I, Batley Grammar and Bradford Tech (thanks, teachers). He was employed within the Bradford-based companies of the AE Group for thirty-two years, then worked for Dove’s Layland Daf with his brother-in-law for three years. He considers himself privileged to have known many amazing people.