Jill Robinson, the Guardian Northerner's monthly chronicler of life in Yorkshire's Calderdale, looks to local legend Billy Holt for ways of selling her new bookThe new programme of Heritage Walks organised by Calderdale council has just been issued, and very good it looks. Among the many guided walks advertised is one entitled With Billy and Trigger. Billy is William Holt, 1897 -1977, a native of Todmorden, who during his life was a weaver, soldier, writer, publisher, war correspondent, logger, broadcaster, artist, film stuntman, inventor, traveller and political activist. At various times he ran a holiday camp in Hardcastle Crags, developed a model farm, and organised a mobile subscription library, whereby books were delivered on a vehicle which was half motor-cycle and half van. Trigger was the white horse he bought from a rag and bone merchant, and with which he travelled across Europe, to Italy and back, sleeping rough at the road-side. This expedition furnished the material for Holt's book, Trigger in Europe.While the event in July will not require walkers to travel as far as Rome, it will help to re-awaken public awareness of Billy Holt. He was a truly unique character, still remembered by some older Calderdale residents as being the man who went to prison for nine months as part of his campaign against the hated 1930s household means test. Others recall him travelling up and down the valley knocking on doors and selling his self-published books from Trigger's saddlebag. My bookshelves have a copy of the novel The Wizard of Whirlaw, published in 1959 and priced at fifteen shillings; inside, Holt has written "From my saddlebag at Ripponden, 5 August 1961". The Author's Note informs readers that this is the third book he has published himself, as it would not be easy for any publisher to fit the book into his current list. "It will defy classification. I am so glad." The note continues, "It seems to be my fate - or fortune!- as an author to carry my best books on my back. Some of the copies will be delivered by me within sight of Whirlaw. And some will be read far, far away."A complete biography is quite beyond the scope of this blog; it may be noted however, that although William Holt was voted Radio Personality of the year in 1949, his contract with the BBC was not renewed when the McCarthy era loomed. In 1969 Yorkshire Television made a film about him, The All or Nothing Man, in which he was interviewed by Austin Mitchell. The piece featured a memorable scene of Trigger and Billy simultaneously rolling on their backs in the heather, kicking their legs in the air. Billy's wife, Florence, is also interviewed, telling the audience that she feels sorry for the horse; but to this viewer, a horse never looked happier.The Northerner is looking forward to the guided walk, and while researching the full and varied life of William Holt for this piece, has taken inspiration from his singular method of promoting his books. He stands as an example to all local writers, who, while they may not have a horse at their disposal, may possess alternative forms of transport, (in my case, an ancient camper-van); so with a new book out (Life's Rich Tapestry), now might be the time to emulate Holt's unique selling technique by going door-to-door, from Todmorden to Brighouse, enjoying the beauty of the Calder Valley in Springtime.BBCHeritageWalking holidaysJill Robinsonguardian.co.uk © 2012 Guardian News and Media Limited or its affiliated companies. All rights reserved. | Use of this content is subject to our Terms & Conditions | More Feeds
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