New Book from Hodnet Historian

Mr. Mothershaw with his new book

Mr. Mothershaw with his new bookGerald Mothershaw, a well know local historian, has recently published his latest book. Called The War Years 1939-1945 – How Times Have Changed, it includes accounts of the experiences of servicemen based in Hodnet and other villages around Market Drayton during the war.
This is Gerald’s seventh book, and like the previous ones he is donating the proceeds from its sale to charity. On this occasion the beneficiary will be the armed forces charity Help for Heroes. Appropriately, the book contains a chapter about Corporal Simon Vaughan from Hodnet who was severely injured in an explosion while serving in Afghanistan in December 2008.
The book has been produced with help from The Muller Community Trust, Kate & Simon Johnston and The Weston & Whixall Church of England Schools Trust.
Mr Mothershaw, 75, said: “Over the last 12 years, I’ve written about Hodnet as the village’s historian and I thought I’d round things off by looking at the history of the village during the last war.
“I wrote it because of all the interest there is in World War II and because a lot of people asked me, ‘Is there a book coming out for Christmas?’
“It has stories in it about HMS Godwit in Ollerton, RAF Peplow, the airfields around the Market Drayton area and a brief history of the last war.
“I hope young children will find it of great interest because I go to Hodnet Primary School to give talks and a lot of the children there are interested in the Second World War.
“But for the grown-ups, it will bring back a lot of memories.”
Gerald Mothershaw’s previous books are:

  • A Brief History of Hodnet Township 1066
  • Hodnet in Wartime Through the Eyes of a Child
  • The Lords of Hodnet Manor, A Rummage through the Twentieth Century
  • Early and Modern Medical Achievements and the History of Hodnet Doctors
  • The Wonderful Years of Steam Trains through Hodnet
  • My Successful Methods for Growing Exhibition Vegetables