Preston born Chorltonian waits 70 years to launch book

Now as a headline, Preston born Chorltonian waits 70 years to launch book, does what it says, because Peter Topping was born in Preston, has passed his 70th birthday in Chorlton, and is about to launch his book this Saturday at Chorlton Bookshop.

But like any good headline it is only part of the story.

Peter in partnership with Andrew Simpson has already published and launched seven books, which were introduced to the world in a variety of places, including a pub, the Library and Ken Foster’s Cycle shop on Barlow Moor Road.

So, I wouldn’t expect anything else than for Peter to choose a bookshop to launch his book.

Over the last year and a bit, I have written heaps about "Smile Dammit Smile!!! Chorlton", which was published last year in the midst of first national lockdown and suffered from the second lockdown which saw Greater Manchester remain closed down.

But all of that is over, and Peter would like to invite everyone to the launch of “Smile Dammit Smile!!! Chorlton”, on Saturday, May 22nd between 10 am and 4 pm at Chorlton Bookshop, 506 Wilbraham Rd, Chorlton-cum-Hardy, Manchester M21 9AW

The event is free and as the publicity note announce “At last he has the chance to launch a book that has taken 70 years and Covid to create!!!

These mainly Chorlton based tall stories, with snippets of sometimes exaggerated testimony, and tales of disproportionate catastrophes and misfortunes, will appeal to the sense of humour instilled in the minds of every Chorltonian”.

And these include, in no particular order are, “Bodies Found in Southern Cemetery”, “Books Discovered in Chorlton Bookshop” and “Dead Shark Found in Chorlton Diving Club Pool”.

Peter assures me that there will be no plastic sharks, cardboard imitation gravestones, or samples from Barlow Moor’s Treacle Farm, but would not discount a demonstration of his “Wireless Gas” which “will increase the portability of gas appliance and works by transmitting gas particles via radio signals”*

The science is beyond me, but is described in some detail on page 68 of his book, and looks most convincing, but then until I was 6 I continued to think that the figures on the TV existed in the back of the box.

*Wireless Gas Comes to Chorlton”, “Smile Dammit Smile!!! Chorlton”, Peter Topping, 2020, page 69