A DAD of four who was born and bred in Bradford has written and published a new book to help children understand issues about life.

The book, titled Calm Pond, by former Bradford man Richard Clarke, was released in December 2023, and is a book of nine short stories about a group of animals who live in Blackstone Edge, Lancashire.

Bradford Telegraph and Argus: A wintry of scene of Blackstone Edge in Lancashire, where the book Calm Pond is set.A wintry of scene of Blackstone Edge in Lancashire, where the book Calm Pond is set. (Image: UGC)

“I always thought little short stories would be best,” said Richard. “I’ve based all the characters in the book on creatures in a little pond in a field at the back of my terraced house at Blackstone Edge. I named some of the characters after my four children.

“The stories cover many topics to help children understand life issues, such as equality, resilience, honesty, change, strengths and weaknesses, anxiety, differences, empathy, bereavement and mental health.

Bradford Telegraph and Argus: Author Richard Clarke's four children, George, Hannah, Niamh and Harry, who some of the characters in his book Calm Pond are named after.Author Richard Clarke's four children, George, Hannah, Niamh and Harry, who some of the characters in his book Calm Pond are named after. (Image: UGC)

Richard, who grew up in Eccleshill, Idle and Greengates and attended St Francis, St George and St Bede’s schools, said: “One of the stories is based on my own life and is about resilience.

“When I was 19 in 1988, I had an horrific leg injury playing football.

“I was told I would never walk properly again, never play football and would have to give up teaching PE, as I would need to wear a calliper for the rest of my life because I could not move my left foot.

“I refused to accept this and worked very hard. In 1992, I became a qualified PE teacher.

“In the late 90s, I was a semi pro footballer at Liversedge.

“In 2000, I played in the FA National Sunday Cup final for Albion Sports FC of Bradford.

“I was captain and was told that I was the first person to lead a Bradford team out in a national final since 1911.

“I imagine I'm the only person to play in a FA final with a calliper.

“The moral of this story is ‘if you find something hard, just keep going and going’.”

Richard has spent nearly 30 years in the education sector with the majority of his experience coming as Head of Pastoral at a large secondary school in Halifax.

Although he lives at Blackstone Edge in Lancashire, Richard maintains strong connections with Bradford.

He said: “I still have relatives in Bradford and friends connected with Albion Sports, so I come back often and I go to the pantomime every year.

Calm Pond can be ordered on Amazon, and Richard said the book recently reached number 10 in the Amazon charts for short stories for young adults.