Newspaper Article 1995 – Novel gift for the family

Novel gift for the family

Retired Hawke’s Bay farmer Frederick Ward has left a novel legacy for future generations of his family.

Mr Ward, who farmed Waiwhare on the Taihape Road after moving from Marlborough in 1948, has written a book Onwards from an Island which has just been published.

The 136-page soft cover book covers Mr Ward’s life from his earliest days of Forsyth Island at the head of Pelorus Sound, his experiences during the Second World War and the breaking-in of Waiwhare on his return to civilian life.

Mr Ward, now living in retirement with his wife Lorna in Hastings, said the book would provide future generations of his family with a link with their past.

His family’s link with New Zealand dates back to 1842 when his great-grandfather Joseph Ward left England and came to New Zealand aboard the ship George Fyffe. He landed in Nelson and soon settled in Marlborough where he became a land owner.

Mr Ward completed his 58,00-word [58,000 word] manuscript, by hand and later on a typewriter, in 1989.

The book has been published by Cosmos Publications in Taradale and printed by Brebner Print in Napier.

Ian Thomson, a partner in Cosmos Publications with Peter Hallett, said that the aim of the company was to assist people like Mr Ward “who have a story to tell and to put it in book form”.

“Our specialist field of publishing is all aspects of New Zealand’s heritage and this leads to some advantages when it comes to prepare private publications,” Mr Thomson said.

The company has published such books as Art Deco Napier and Spanish Mission Hastings.

Mr Thomson said that in addition to their normal publishing programme, they were able to accommodate a limited number of private commissions.

“Our specialist knowledge of the heritage field allows us to bring a depth of understanding of the subject matter and a commitment to high quality standards,” he said.

The company provides a complete editing, photographic and design and printing service to turn a manuscript into a “quality book at a reasonable cost”.

A total of 500 copies of Mr Ward’s work have been printed with the book going on sale at Foster Brook Paper Plus in Hastings and Bookworld in his former home in Blenheim.

Photo caption – Mr Ward, left, with his book and Mr Thomson with a bound copy he presented to the author.