CELEBRITY in Hereford can now be measured by those local stars of stage, pitch and enterprise who find themselves featured in a new book capturing the city’s own hall of fame.

The irrepressible man with a camera, Paddy Mayglothling has been at work once again, producing studies of well-known faces ranging from Bishop of Hereford, the Rt Rev Richard Frith, Verden Allen, founder of 1970s rock band, Mott the Hoople, and stars of the football pitch at Edgar Street.

The author unveiled his celebrity issue of Hereford Bench Life in a Commercial Road bar attended by a clutch of local celebs.

There was Hereford United legend, Colin Addison rubbing shoulders with rock stars, sportsmen and women and captains of industry.

And there was ‘Paddy Mac’ himself, attired in a dazzling Union Jack suit, presiding over the formalities.

Well-known musician Martin Blake, guitarist and main vocalist in Welsh borders’ Swamp Rock band, Whiskey River, expressed his own satisfaction at appearing in Paddy’s hit parade.

“The book has footballers, musicians and weirdos,” he said, adding: “…well, musicians and weirdos are the same by default!”

Phil Tippins, who toured Europe in the 1960s with Herefordshire band, the Ups ‘n’ Downs, is among a galaxy of county stars in the book. His cousin, Stan Tippins, vocalist with a line up going on to become Mott the Hoople, and becoming the band’s road manager, also features, as does its keyboard player, Verden Allen, who was snapped on a bench outside the Butter Market.

Asked if he was pleased to be featured in Paddy Mac’s book, he said: “At this particular period of time, it’s nice to be around to be in there.”

Herefordshire Council’s stylish councillor, Marcelle Lloyd-Hayes appears, as does busy estate agent and chief executive of Westfields Football Club, Andrew Morris, who was persuaded to sit still for a moment for Paddy’s camera.

Other entrepreneurs include Peter Amor, who describes himself as the ‘young Mr Grace of Wye Valley Brewery’, jeweller Mike Gell, once commissioned to make a ring for Doctor Who, and former FA referee Ron Marshall, chairman of Marshall and Imperial Properties.

Paddy, who survived a terrifying knife attack two years ago, went on to sell a thousand copies of his first book, Hereford Bench People, before netting some of Hereford’s local celebrities for this second volume.

“When the madcap idea came to me it was met with much ridicule and disdain,” he explains. “One year on and more determined, here I am again with the belief that it’s never too late to be what you might have been.”

His celebrity haul begins with a picture of 94-year-old Amy May Good.

“Come rain or shine, this lady can be found outside the Butter Market collecting money for the Salvation Army,” he says.

*Copies of the new book are available from Yates, Aargh Tattoos, Bones Barbers, No 1 Butter Market, S & S News, the Barrels and Grapes pubs.