Former Grantham mayor releases 'honest' autobiography
A former mayor has released an autobiography that reflects on his childhood up until his time spent as Mayor of Grantham.
Councillor Ian Selby’s memoir ‘A Tree-mendous Journey’ will give readers an honest insight into his year as mayor as well as his childhood days growing up riding ponies to the challenges he faced after being diagnosed with dyslexia in university.
But it was his journey into politics and his Mayoral year in 2014/2015 that first inspired Coun Selby, 55, to write the autobiography, after he kept a daily diary during his year in office to capture some of the highlights.
He said: “It is an honest account and a good insight into my year as the mayor and my journey along the way.
“I don’t know of any other past mayor that has written an account about their year in office.
“As mayor, I met lots of caring local people like nine-year-old Lucy Smith who was upset because a tree she planted in Queens Park had been vandalised so we helped her to replant one.
“Grantham cartoonist Terry Shelbourne often visited me in the Mayors Parlour and painted fabulous pictures. I also met two Arnhem veterans at a memorial unveiling.”
The councillor’s first brush with fame was when he spent 36 hours in a tree outside the Houses of Parliament in February 1994 to protest about the unfairness of the Child Support Agency.
He made national headlines again in 2001 when he put on a Margaret Thatcher mask during the formal photograph of councillors.
Putting pen to paper has not been without its challenges though.
Coun Selby added: “Being dyslexic makes things problematic. The book is over 104,000 words long and has taken me over two years to write.
“It was delayed further when I became involved in our battle to try and get our A&E re-instated as the campaign became my priority.”
Coun Selby will officially launch the book on social media today (Friday) adding: “I like to do things differently.”
He has had 250 special limited editions made and will be sending the first copy to Her Majesty The Queen, adding: “Our Queen is marvellous.”
A Tree-mendous Journey is available on the internet through a network of around 39,000 retailers, wholesalers and libraries including Amazon, Waterstones and Spiderwize.
Coun Selby added: “The book is dedicated to everybody who has voted for me in the past in all the different elections that I have stood in. Thank you to all that has helped and shown kindness. We all have a book in us and this is my story.”