THE future publication of guidebooks by the legendary fell-walking chronicler Alfred Wainwright has been saved.

In a linked move, the printing of them is returning to Kendal after a gap of ten years, securing local jobs and creating new ones.

The joint announcement is being made by London publishers Frances Lincoln, who fought off competition from 30 other major book firms for the right to publish the fell-walkers' "bibles".

There has been a behind-the-scenes frenzy in the literary world since The Westmorland Gazette revealed a month ago that previous publishers Michael Joseph, part of the Penguin group, was ceasing publication and returning ownership of the copyright to Wainwright's widow Betty.

Penguin never announced the reasons for its decision, although it is believed sales slumped in the wake of the foot-and-mouth disease in 2001, which curtailed the opportunity to take to the fells.

Although the sales declined to a number too small for multi-national Penguin, the announcement prompted renewed interest and other publishers scrambled to take up the baton.

The race was won by Frances Lincoln Publishers, whose managing director is John Nicholl. He was born in Staveley, where he still has a home.

"When I heard about Michael Joseph's decision, I thought it couldn't be true. For serious walkers these books are irreplaceable."

Mr Nicholl believes he won because of his local connections and his enthusiasm for the works.

He said: "We are really thrilled to be publishing these books, which I have known all my life. As a boy who was born and brought up at the foot of Kentmere in the heart of the Lake District I remember treasuring each new volume as they were published.

"Now I am honoured to be the publisher of these extraordinary books and look forward to introducing them to a whole new generation."

Jenny Dereham, former Wainwright editor at Michael Joseph, said: "I'm confident this

is the right home for the books and I'm

so pleased with the outcome."

Frances Lincoln will be bringing the printing of the pictorial guides back to Titus Wilson, now in Burneside Road, Kendal.

Mrs Wainwright said: "It is wonderful that the printing is coming back to Kendal. I am sure it is what AW would have wanted."

Managing Director David Rigg said: "We are delighted to be producing Wainwright guidebooks again after a gap of ten years.

"The contract has come at an opportune moment because we are in the process of building a new 6,000ft factory off Busher Walk, behind our works, in order to expand our production capacity of casebound books.

"The work will certainly secure existing jobs and we intend to recruit extra bookbinding staff in the spring. Our staff are working around the clock to meet the Easter deadline."

Titus Wilson will be using the film of Wainwright's original distinctive hand-written text and line drawings, which they retained when they originally lost the contract.

February 14, 2003 09:30