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Welcome to the Oakwood Press Book, Video and DVD Web Site
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New - A Full
list of Books in Print -
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We specialise in the
production of quality books, videos and DVDs that capture the beauty and history of transport throughout the ages. We
pride ourselves in offering you the enthusiast the very best in choice and quality.
All our titles are written by authors with
intimate knowledge on the subject in question and who have provided photographs, films,
maps and illustrations that provide unique insight into many of the subjects which we
cover.
We hope you enjoy browsing this site and
would appreciate any ideas for improvement.
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R.W Kidner - (1914-2007) - A
Railway Publishing Pioneer
It is with great
sadness that we have to report that on Friday, 14th September 2007,
Roger “R W” Kidner passed away aged 93. A pioneer in the field of
railway publishing RWK founded Oakwood Press in 1931 with schoolmate R.M.
(Michael) Robbins, who remained involved until the 1950s. With Roger at
the helm the output of Oakwood Press included some of the first books
for train-spotters and gave birth to the very first 'branch line
history' - the surprising success of the Lynton & Barnstaple Railway by
L.T. Catchpole stimulated the desire to publish books based on more of
Roger's own interests in 'light' and narrow-gauge railways and gave
birth to a publishing company famed for its eclectic and some would say
esoteric quirkiness. His more mainstream 'Big Four' interests were
particularly the Southern Railway and the South Wales valleys.
Incredibly, despite running the company almost single handed for 54
years, his wife Beryl the unsung heroine in the back-ground, he found
the time to research and write over 30 books himself, three in
collaboration with others, whilst dozens of other authors counted him as
publisher, friend and adviser. Having run Oakwood from the age of
sixteen Roger reached 70 in 1984 and decided to hand over the reigns to
like-minded publisher Jane Kennedy, yet still spent much of the next 23
years in the background 'on hand' to pass on his wealth of knowledge;
Oakwood Press is his legacy of 77 extraordinary years of service to the
railway enthusiast.
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