Richard Webb
Dartmouth Connections - Richard Webb, Local Resident and Publisher of books about Dartmouth
What is your family connection with Dartmouth?
I’m the third generation of my family to live in Dartmouth. My mother`s parents moved here from London in 1920 just after the First World War. My grandfather was an entrepreneur, inventor (the Boddy-Finch life jacket) and local benefactor. He donated the Italian marble statue `Piscatorie` in Royal Avenue Gardens to Dartmouth.
My mother and aunt lived at Stoke Fleming and my grandfather eventually lived above the Customs House on Bayard`s Cove.
I first saw Dartmouth as a child during the Second World War. After living abroad with my parents for many years my father retired from the Army and we settled back in Dartmouth in the 1950s.
My father co-founded the Dartmouth & Kingswear Society and was President of Dartmouth St John`s Ambulance Association. My mother founded Dartmouth & District Flower Club which celebrates its 50th anniversary this year.
What tempted you to settle back in Dartmouth?
After leaving Dartmouth for a publishing career in London in 1961 and then moving back to Exeter in 1974, I eventually came full circle and returned to Dartmouth after 30 years in 1991. Before then I had enjoyed a varied career working at Conde Nast - Vogue magazine etc where I met Twiggy and David Bailey, and then setting up Webb & Bower Books in Exeter.
I returned for the same reasons as most people probably do; Dartmouth is a beautiful place with interesting people. Meeting Gilly my wife here was an added bonus!
Why did you decide to set up a publishing business specifically focused on Dartmouth?
It was more a continuation of my life as a publisher but on a smaller scale. I felt that Dartmouth`s history, scenery and culture should be recorded in book form. It also brings my publishing career full circle - as a child, I worked as a bookshop assistant for Christopher Milne (i.e. the Christopher Robin of Winnie the Pooh fame) at The Harbour Bookshop during the school holidays.
What is special about Dartmouth that encourages this publishing creativity?
Dartmouth attracts some very special people who have had interesting lives and the home grown talent here is pretty good as well!
What book that you have published have you been most proud?
I have published nearly 400 books, including several international best sellers, but the books I have published about Dartmouth have given me the most pride and pleasure. I suppose my earlier career highlight was publishing “The Country Diary of an Edwardian Lady” which is going strong even today. The book is still in print and has now sold over three million copies in 13 languages.
What is the book you would most wish to publish?
The next one….!
Have you ever turned down a book you have wished since that you hadn`t?
No – but the Editor in the next office to mine in London turned down `The Day of the Jackal` by Frederick Forsyth!
What future new books about Dartmouth are planned?
Two of the main ones will be`The Chronicles of Dartmouth Volume 2 1955 – 2010` by Phil Scoble and `Dartmouth Discovered by Writers and Artists` which I look forward to compiling and editing myself. We have just launched a fascinating book about Dartmouth’s John Hawley and next month sees the publication of “Reflections of Dartmouth” which is a beautiful book capturing all the sparkle of Dartmouth.
What sort of books do you personally read?
History and Travel books mainly but the ‘Swallows and Amazons` series will always be my favourite as it reminds me of my early years in Dartmouth.
First Published July 2008 By The Dart