A RAMSBOTTOM pensioner has finished writing his first book – five decades after starting it.

Ron Ford, aged 84, who lives in the McCarthy and Stone retirement home in Longsight Road, Holcombe Brook, began writing the story, titled 'Zwei Brüder', back in the 1960s and finally managed to put the finishing touches to it earlier this year.

However, there is a slight complication in that the story is written in manuscript form.

He is now appealing for assistance in getting the story typed up, after which he intends to submit it to a publisher.

Mr Ford lived in Todmorden, where he ran his own garage, for much of his life. After retiring, he moved to the Bury area about 15 years ago before moving into the home two years ago

Of the story, he said: “I started writing it but never properly until I came here. The main thing was my business, that was my bread and butter.

“I thought am I ever going to write this book and am I good enough to write a book?

“I’ve been in this retirement home for two years and I’ve finally finished it.

"When I started writing, it just came to me. I really enjoyed the process. I look back at certain bits and think ‘did I write that?’"

Set in a northern German town during the years between the first and second world wars, 'Zwei Brüder' follows two twin brothers who take divergent paths.

While one stayed to work for their father's engineering business, the other joined the SS and was stationed at concentration camps throughout Germany.

The inspiration for the story came from encounters with a former German officer who was a customer at his garage.

“This guy used to come into the garage and he was a German officer in France during the war," said Mr Ford.

"He used to tell me these little snippets and I used to tell him it would make a fabulous book.

“I started putting this story together, not about him but about a story I had in my mind. This story is from the German side and some of it is true.

"There are so many people that have written books of how Britain won the war and how many things went on, but I wanted to put myself in the place of a German."

He is now asking someone to help him type up all 21 chapters of the manuscript, and says he is willing to pay them for their services.

“I think it’s a great story," he said.

"Why should it not be told? I’m in limbo now and it would be a shame to lose it all. I'd love to get it published after all this time."

Anyone interested in typing up the book should call Mr Ford on 01204 231 106.