A SINGLE post to a local Facebook group turned a book launch into a major success for Worcester journalist-turned-author Bob Blandford.
Thirty hours ahead of last Friday’s launch, the ex-Mirror Group associate editor posted details to his ‘Bob Backenforth’s Worcester Pubs Then and Now’ FB group and the result turned what had been planned as a low-key affair for group members into his biggest first airing yet.
What’s even more remarkable is that final delivery of the books hadn’t been until the day before, and Bob was left with less than two days to fix a location.
“I ended up signing so many, I reckon the wordcount might be on a par with my newsroom days!” he quipped following the two-hour launch at The Chestnut pub in Landsdowne Road on Friday.
As a result, his latest books ‘Bob Backenforth’s Worcester Pubs Volume III’ and a limited edition two-volume box-set ‘Victoria’s Worcester. The People. The Press. The Pubs’ are on course to top his existing best-seller records following two earlier works on Worcester’s rich pubs heritage and ‘The Spike’, the sometimes shocking history of Worcester City Police which was released last year.
“Why The Chestnut? Aside from being a favourite local and a splendidly-loony location, I’d mentioned what had turned into a bit of a crisis to Colin (‘Mad Pierre’) Robinson and he asked ‘what’s wrong with here?’ and so it was fixed,” said Bob.
“It was as instant as that”.
In just four days, sales have accounted for almost a quarter of the books’ printing cost.
Now, a series of mini-launches and signing sessions are also planned in the run-up to Christmas. The Anchor Diglis (December 4), Whitehall (December 8) and Wheatsheaf (December 15) have already been arranged, and several others including The Bell, and
The Crown in Bransford Road also pegged and awaiting dates.
‘Bob Backenforth’s Worcester Pubs Then and Now’ FB group – open to everybody with an interest in Worcester’s fascinating love affair with its history and its pubs – is the site’s second incarnation after the original 2,500-member location was hacked in July last year.
Bob admits it has taken a back-seat during the year-long production of his latest works that involve meticulous superimposition of old photographs on to the same scenes today to create the most detailed views of Victorian Worcester ever likely to be published.
Another internet sensation is Bob’s seven-minute video of old and new Worcester photographs ‘Worcester Then and Now’ posted to You Tube and attracting more than 43,000 visits.
Bob’s four books in four years – involving 2,000 pages and almost a million words – are available at Waterstones, Tourist Information Centre and other outlets as well as direct from the author at [email protected], with discounts available to his FB group members.
His next planned book is volume two of ‘The Spike’ – although that’s unlikely to appear until 2019.
In the meantime, an up-to-the-minute guide to the city, its pubs, clubs and bars, remains a possibility for mid-next year.
