Wenlock Olympian Games Book Launch

Graphics and Print, the award winning Shropshire based commercial printers, are proud to have recently been chosen by Ellingham Press, the Much Wenlock based publishers, to print three books. Two of the three books are extremely timely as they have a direct link with the Olympian Games - the inspiration behind the modern Olympic movement. The third is a book of poetry featuring the current Poet Laureate.

Managing Director Martin Kells explains: “We have a strong commitment to the communities in which we operate, so to be chosen by Ellingham Press, a local firm of publishers to print these books was a real honour.

Graphics and Print started in 1980 as a small family-run business in Telford, just down the road from Much Wenlock, and we know how important it is to have local support in order to succeed. To therefore support a local firm of publishers has been fantastic and the three books come highly recommended.”

“The Olympian Games in Wenlock” provides a pictorial history of the games from their creation in 1850 by Dr William Penny Brooks to the present day. Pictures range from sepia tone images of penny-farthings to full colour pictures of recent events, including a visit to the town by the Wenlock mascot last year. At £12.99, this is a must for anyone interested in the history of the Olympian Games.

“How Peggy the Much Wenlock Piglet Took Part in the Olympian Games” is the second of the books recently published, providing a simple little story which aims to fire the imagination and spur the interest of children in the events in Victorian Shropshire which were a forerunner to what has been dubbed the greatest show on earth. This is Shropshire author Jocelyne Adams first book and she has teamed up with the talented illustrator Isobel Bushell and publisher Ina Taylor, to create a winning local team. For £4.99 children not only get to learn a little about the history of the games but will have fun doing it at the same time.

The third book to have been printed is the “Wenlock Poetry Festival Anthology for 2012”. This features the work of 60 poets appearing at this year's festival, the anthology includes poems by Carol Ann Duffy, patron of the Wenlock Poetry Festival and current Poet Laureate, Gillian Clarke, Jackie Kay and Daljit Nagra. Again priced at £4.99, this is a must for poetry enthusiasts.

All three books are available online and post free from www.ellinghampress.co.uk.

Graphics and Print are dedicated towards establishing relationships with organisations in the local area to help strengthen the community infrastructure. They aim to use local suppliers where possible to help support neighbouring businesses, and encourage employees to actively get involved with charitable events in their region. They also regularly offer work experience opportunities to nearby schools and colleges as well as the mentoring of university students who wish to pursue a career in print.

'The Austerity Olympics' - When The Games Came To London In 1948

Janie Hampton's acclaimed The Austerity Olympics vividly depicts the last time the Games came to London. Her tales of teams ferried to events on double-decker buses, billeted in army camps and sewing their own kits are a world away from the lavish 2012 arenas and massive regeneration of Stratford East.

The 1948 London Olympics demonstrated what a fantastic Games could be organised on just £760,000 - and still make a profit. The main stadium was cleared of greyhound racing to allow great athletes such as Emil Zatopek and Fanny Blankers-Koen to thrill the indomitable Londoners who cheerfully overcame every obstacle, from food rationing to terrible weather.

Entertaining, revealing and highly-readable, this meticulously researched book is full of first-hand interviews, hilarious anecdotes, and spirited athletic feats. The Austerity Olympics is a fascinating book about an extraordinary event.

Published to coincide with BBC film based on the book - Bert & Dickie airing in May
Contains over 200 original interviews with entertaining anecdotes that make great material for review, extract and radio coverage.

Shortlisted for William Hill Sports Book of the Year

Janie Hampton has written over 15 books, from biography to fiction. She is the author of the critically acclaimed biography of Joyce Grenfell; and appears regularly on radio, in print and at literary festivals.

She is the leading authority on the social history of the Olympic Games in London and is Olympics Correspondent of The Oldie Magazine. She lives in Oxford.

The Austerity Olympics by Janie Hampton is published by Aurum Press on

20th February 2012 priced £8.99.