Dog duo and beauty spot features in Shropshire teacher's debut children's book

Roy Bradshaw has penned a series of books called Barley's Biscuit and his first, featuring Benthall Edge in Broseley and Pattern’s Rock Quarry, has just been published.

His inspiration for the book came from a friend who had Collie dogs called Badger, Barley and Basil.

The father-of-three, of Madeley, Telford, said: "I bumped into a friend of mine in my local pub.

"He had got an old dog at the time called Badger, he had a companion for him called Barley and some time later Badger died and he got another Collie called Basil.

"Basil is Barley's nephew. As Barley was growing up it became obvious he was keen on biscuits. He would pester people for them.

"My friend would tell anyone who would listen about the big walks they would go on around the beauty spots in Shropshire.

"The idea formed in my head of using beauty spots in Shropshire as settings for the adventures of these two dogs – Barley and Basil. I also wanted to make it educational, include some danger and a problem they could solve together.

"Barley is the thinker and Basil is the helper."

In the first book, Barley and Basil find themselves in a tricky situation at Pattern’s Rock Quarry and its steep cliff edge sides.

During a rainy and stormy day, Barley has to be clever, sensible and brave to rescue his nephew from a fate too horrible to think about.

The book, which is also illustrated by Toni Sian Williams, is available from Amazon for £5.99.

Roy, who had a career in engineering and is now a design technology teacher at Madeley Academy, says he is happy with how the finished product turned out.

The 61-year-old, who also taught at a number of primary schools, said: "It looks super. Toni picks up my words and illustrates it how I imagine it to be.

"I've written a series of 10 books under the Barley's Biscuit name.

"They are at different locations including Blists Hill, Severn Valley Railway, Wenlock Edge and The Wrekin.

"One of my aims is to try and put these areas on the map."

Copies of the book are also available from Roy by emailing roy.bradshaw456@outlook.com