Yorkshire journalist Andy Hirst has ghost written an autobiography which is the first of its kind in the publishing industry

Respected Yorkshire journalist Andy Hirst has written an autobiography for an entrepreneur known as The Disruptor which is thought to be a first for the publishing industry.

For the book features a competition with a very special prize while also raising thousands of pounds for charity.

Andy runs his own Yorkshire freelance journalism agency AH! PR specialising in press releases, blogging, website content, copywriting and ghost-writing autobiographies. AH! PR is a Huddersfield Civic Society corporate member and edits the society’s website.

The autobiography is for serial Huddersfield entrepreneur and philanthropist Prof Graham Leslie CBEwhosaved the NHS millions of pounds and built the UK’s first all-seater football and rugby stadium which inspired the new Wembley.

He has wanted to write his autobiography for a while but has dyslexia so turned to Andy for help and the book called Ahead Of The Curve is now published and selling exceptionally well.

Graham is the person responsible for making everyday medicines such as paracetamol and ibuprofen inexpensive and easily available in supermarkets and corner shops.

His company, Galpharm International Ltd, ended up producing, packaging and distributing more than 75 million paracetamol tablets a month and had a 70% share of the UK’s affordable medicines market. The way he changed how medicines could be sold is estimated to continually save the NHS more than £400m every year.

His autobiography, published by Great Northern Books, reveals how he did it along with all kinds of crucial tips for businesses, including how they can double their profits in a year.

Graham was also chairman of Huddersfield Town Football Club in the early 1990s and had the vision, drive and determination to kick-start the project that led to a new stadium in Huddersfield, the first all-seater football and rugby stadium in the UK which opened exactly 30 years ago.

It was so striking and different it set the standards for all other UK sports grounds to follow and, ultimately, inspired the new Wembley stadium with the architect who designed the Huddersfield stadium designing the country’s landmark stadium in London.

Graham said: “I’d made notes over several years towards my autobiography but knew my dyslexia meant I’d never be able to write it myself which was incredibly frustrating.

“I needed someone to do that but was starting to think it was going to be impossible to find anyone. I’d known of Andy for a while and that he’s highly respected in Yorkshire for his journalism skills so asked if he could help.

“He’s done way more than that as he has the uncanny ability to understand exactly what I want to say and then capture it and write it in such an easy-to-read, flowing style. People who know me say the book is just like me talking directly to them.

“Andy’s an exceptional ghost writer and I’ve had people who’ve read dozens of autobiographies tell me mine is the best one they’ve read, which is quite some testament.”

Andy said: “Graham is known as The Disruptor for thinking so differently which meant I needed to really understand his psyche and what makes him tick. He’s a fascinating person with some cracking anecdotes to tell, along with a remarkable life story.

“Graham’s not only a serial entrepreneur but also a philanthropist and during the project learned about a charity where I’m a trustee and decided he wanted every penny from the book to help that charity. The book was published on July 26, 2024 yet it’s already raised almost £15,000. I can’t thank him enough for his kindness and generosity.”

The charity is Making Waves in Huddersfield which supports the Waves day care centre for people aged 18 and over with learning and/or physical difficulties from across the town and beyond. It’s one of the most innovative day care centres in the UK.

Graham said: “When I went to see Waves for myself I was totally blown away by the quality of care, friendship and opportunities it provides disabled people. Like me, it thinks differently to try to enhance people’s lives.”

Graham wanted to give people who buy the book the chance to win a prize that would be highly personal to them and one which would normally cost thousands of pounds – a move that’s thought to be the first of its kind in the publishing industry.

So readers who buy the book have the chance to enter a competition and the winner will be able to commission a piece of artwork by Royal artist Richard Gower.

Richard did a painting depicting the Duke of Edinburgh’s last ever formal engagement in August 2017 when he was 96, meeting Royal Marines at Buckingham Palace who had done a 1,664-mile trek for charity. This was in his role as their Captain General and the painting captures the poignant moment he tipped his bowler hat to them.

Richard offered it to Graham but he suggested he send it to The Queen instead so he contacted her Lady In Waiting offering the painting as a gift. Richard received a letter back saying that throughout the Queen’s reign she had never accepted a painting from any artist as they had all been commissioned.

But on this one occasion the Queen agreed to accept it as she loved the painting so much which means Richard is the only artist to have provided the Queen with a painting that wasn’t commissioned.

The competition has now been extended to midnight on Friday, January 24, 2025.

To buy the book and have a chance of winning go to https://www.gnbooks.co.uk/product/ahead-of-the-curve/