A FORMER telephone engineer has discovered 'It's good to write' and is now eagerly awaiting the publication of his first novel.

George Clarke took up writing in 1986 after an accident while working as a washing machine service engineer left him with time on his hands.

He has played in bands for 50 years and the tales and stories proved an ideal starting ground for his first novel entitled Bold As Brass - a bandsman's tale.

George, 63, of Fernhill Avenue, Stacksteads, said: "I wrote the first couple of chapters and showed it to my sister, Sheila, who used to be a teacher, and she said I should go back to school and study English first!"

He enrolled on North West open college courses at Accrington and Rossendale College where he did the equivalent of A-level English, typing and for six years has been enjoying creative writing courses.

He has already completed two other novels which he hopes to get published - a racy modern day book called Chrysalis and a classic adventure story about weaving and mills in the 19th Century, and is working on a sequel Bold as Brass Two.

His first novel will be published on November 28 and introduces a village band in Lancashire from the Second World War onwards.

The 400-page, 100,000 word book has been rewritten six times and is now being scripted for radio.

George said: "It came about because there have been times when I have been with the band and people have said we ought to write these stories down."

He has played in Bacup's Irwell Springs, Whitworth, Manchester's CWS Band and is still a member of Stacksteads.

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