AN ULVERSTON man has published his first novel at the age of 77 - despite never having written ‘anything longer than a shopping list’.

Michael Hopkins' tale, The Girl from Dunslaney, was inspired by his interest in canals.

In 2021 Mike walked the whole length of the Oxford Canal from Oxford city centre to Coventry Canal Basin to raise funds for St Mary’s Hospice after the sad loss of his wife Sheila earlier that year.

During this walk Mr Hopkins pondered the brilliance of those who built the canals.

“Whilst I was walking, I thought about the way they built those canals in a matter of 50-60 years,” said Michael.

“They built 4,000 odd miles of canal, connecting the whole of the country.

“When you put it into perspective, look at this nonsense with the HS2 – they’ve been at it about 15 years, spent billions of pounds and haven’t even laid a track yet.”

This fascination with canals led him to write his first novel.

He said: “I always thought all my life that I’ve got a story in me somewhere.

“But I never even thought about writing till after my wife died.

“If she was still here it probably wouldn’t have happened because I did it to give me something to occupy my mind while grieving for my wife, which I still am.”

The book, which took around 15 months from conception to publishing, is ‘not all about the canals'.

The synopsis reads: “It's 1776, and England is in the grip of a phenomenon that will become to be known as 'Canal Mania'. In the next fifty years or so, thousands of miles of these man-made waterways will criss-cross the country, opening up trade on a scale previously unimaginable.

"Young Sam Burton leaves the humble family farm to try his luck at 'navvying'. Meanwhile, over the sea in Co. Wexford, young orphan maid Mary O'Farrell is being cruelly exploited by her rich master, Fintan Regan.

"The fates of these three vastly different characters become intertwined in a classic love triangle culminating in a dramatic climax on a Cheshire canal.”

One review on Amazon calls it a ‘gripping tale’ and says it would make an ‘excellent TV series or film’.

The book can be bought from Amazon or from Michael directly by emailing him on: michaeldhopkins@yahoo.com The book costs £7.99 and £1 from each sale will be donated to St Mary’s Hospice.