Author Charlie Emett was born and bred in Kirkby Stephen and is extremely proud of his Cumbrian roots.
During his successful career he has had a total of 36 books published and has kept alive his passion for music and amateur dramatics.
Although he moved to Darlington more than 50 years ago in search of work following the death of his beloved grandmother and to support his then young family, Kirkby Stephen still has a firm place in his heart.
He remembers his childhood vividly, and knows just why he is so fond of the area in which he was raised.
"I love the countryside. I was born in a house beside the River Eden, where a mill used to be, which burnt down in 1900.
"In its place, 4 houses were built and one of them was ours. Nestled into the lush green fields, surrounding Kirkby Stephen, I was raised by my grandmother as my mother died when I was 4 weeks old.
"What was great about our house was that you could look out of the window out onto the natural beauty hills and see animals roaming wild, the scenery has always been something that has fascinated me.
"In the mid 30’s, Kirkby Stephen saw its Masonic hall converted into a cinema. The people who owned it, the Morland family, lived next door to us and would tell me what films would be coming out next. I used to go to the cinema about twice a week.
"I adored film. When a picture was over, I would run out into the fields and let my imagination run wild, pretending to be the characters out of whatever film I had just seen. There was something enchanting about the countryside, something which always brought me to life.
Passion
"One thing which has always played a large role in my life is amateur dramatics and it was in Kirkby that my passion for this was allowed to grow.
"In my spare time, myself and others would put on plays in the town, as well as travelling around local villages putting on shows. It was a great way to meet people and everyone became very much involved.
"What I really love about coming from an area like Kirkby Stephen is the close-knit community.
"People genuinely care for each other. When I used to walk through the town everyone would say hello and ask after my family and friends. Everyone knew everyone. It is still the same today. The town itself, with the exception of a few extra houses, has hardly altered in shape or form since I was a boy.
"Whenever I go back, I always feel as though the town has done me proud. Even after all these years, its values are still the same as they ever were and the strong community spirit is still there.
"For some people, city life may be the only life for them, but for me, my heart lies in the country. My fascination with the beauty of the countryside and my pride in my home town of Kirkby Stephen will always be a part of me.”
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