RON Clayton, self-styled writer in residence at the New Barrack Tavern, one of the premier watering holes in Sheffield Six, has just published his first book. Appropriately it's called Sheffield S6.
Ron knows it intimately. The son of a fishmonger, he was born, brought up, still lives and drinks there.
"S6 is the place I've misspent most of my 56 years. I suspect I'll get carried out of it in a box on my way to the pilot light at Crem de la
Crem, at Grenoside. My ashes will end up in S6 but not on the Wednesday ground," he writes in the foreword.
The postal district takes in not only Hillsborough but Langsett, Kelvin, Malin Bridge, Neepsend, St Philip's and Wardsend. It doesn't always have the best image.
He says: "There's more to S6 than Hillsborough Corner and lager and pizza on Friday and Saturday nights."
He is very protective of it. "Deep down, Hillsborough is working class Sheffield. It doesn't want to be flash and fancy. It will never be an Ecclesall Road."
One reason for the book – the latest in the Then & Now series from local publishers ALD Print – is to remind Sheffield Sixers of their history.
"There are so many aspects within the postcode. It's a bit like Sheffield, it doesn't know its past. The Loxley Valley could be repackaged as Robin Hood Country."
That's one of his hobby horses.
The book contrasts old photographs with ones from 2008 so you can see how much has changed. It's usually quite a lot.
What gives the book added sparkle is his running commentary on the pictures – most of the originals are from the Pictures Sheffield archives.
One shows a wartime scene at the Ponderosa. "Barrage balloon being inspected by curious Sheffielders in the same way the first planes to Sheffield's short-lived airport were," he notes.
Under a picture of the now demolished St Philip's Church he mentions the story that the clock on the tower was lit up to deter graverobbers at Wardsend cemetery.
"Load of cobblers to be honest," he confides.
Ron is well-known as a local historian, raconteur, newspaper columnist and historical activist.
When he's not promoting the line that the man in Lincoln green came from S6, he's saving gravestones from destruction.
Those of three soldiers and a navvy were rescued from St Philip's graveyard and are now at Morrison's supermarket.
Both his historical city walks during the Off the Shelf literary festival are fully booked up. His punters can expect some fun.
"There's nowt worse than local history when it's dead," he says.
Ron's book is now on sale in S6 and beyond at £8.95.
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