SINCE publishing his first book of poems inspired by childhood days in Barnard Castle, Denis Hodgson has been hard at work penning a follow-up.
Mr Hodgson, 81, who lives in Yate, Gloucestershire, with his wife Hilda, was brought up in Thorngate Wynd, moving up to Marwood Drive in his teens.
He spent much of his childhood playing with friends along the banks of the Tees “between the bridges”.
It was this “magical” time that inspired him to publish his first book, Down by the Green Bridge, during lockdown last year.
The 56-page soft back book was such a hit, selling out and raising funds for the TCR Hub food parcel scheme, Mr Hodgson has written a new collection.
Down by the Green Bridge Volume 2 is a mix of poetry and observations of Barnard Castle in the 1940s and 1950s seen through the eyes of a child growing up here.
He said: “It’s about 50 per cent poetry and a few stories, memories of what it was like. I’ve included a quite a few photographs as well.
“It’s really about what me and my friends did in town and what it was like growing up there just after the war. I’ve even got something on the gas street lights.”
Mr Hodgson had hoped to journey up to Barney for a book signing last year but was unable to due to Covid restrictions.
He has signed all copies of his new book, which is dedicated to his daughter Carol, who died in June, that will be on sale in town.
After covering costs, proceeds from the second volume will support the Richardson Hospital.
“The hospital was a key thing in Barney during Covid and it is a pretty good facility for the town.”
Down by the Green Bridge, Volume 2 is on sale at Connelly’s Toyshop for £7.
