3:50pm Saturday 21st November 2009
By Sam McGregor
A FIREFIGHTER who turned his hobby into a book plans to use his publication to boost a charity close to his heart.
Chris Wilson, who is based at Oxfordshire Fire and Rescue Service headquarters in Kidlington, has written a guide to help others learning Spanish flamenco.
For each copy he sells, 50p will be donated to the Fire Fighters’ Charity, which he has supported for 16 years.
Mr Wilson was given the job of fundraising for the charity at his first fire station and said he had been involved in events which have raised about £125,000.
Mr Wilson, 43, has also been helped by the charity – which offers rehabilitation to injured firefighters – after a thatched roof collapsed on him. He had a neck injury and needed physiotherapy.
The firefighter has been studying flamenco since 1996 and noticed a gap in the market for an English guidebook.
He put pen to paper two years ago and after much research he produced Flamenco Essentials.
The book is crammed with information about flamenco dance, music and song and also looks at the history of the hobby.
Home study sessions, a glossary, and a guide to attending classes with tips are included.
The book was due to be out last year but there was complications with the original publisher.
Earlier this month Mr Wilson, of Hanwell Fields, Banbury, finally saw his hardwork published.
He said: “When I finally held the book in my hand I felt relieved.
“I felt proud my dad had helped me before he died suddenly in February, and I felt happy that I have been able to produce something of value to other people.
“All of my friends were very happy for me and helped me celebrate at my recent launch party.”
Mr Wilson, who is also a karate black belt and instructor, said flamenco was traditionally taught by rote, but he found there were lots of unanswered questions.
He said: “In the beginning, many other dancers were asking me to help them understand the complexities of Flamenco rhythms and asking me to write it all down for them.
“As I did that, it became more of a project until at last I decided to write an actual book.”
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