Marvellous Neil Baldwin - My Story with Malcolm Clarke

Released on 17th Sept 2020 this wonderful story in paperback by Neil 'Nello' Baldwin with Malcolm Clarke is about one of the most infamous and honoured sons of Stoke-on-Trent and Newcastle-Under-Lyme. This is his story.

The most heart-warming story of one man's triumph you will hear this year Neil Baldwin Keynote The story of Stoke City's kit man, Neil Baldwin, memorably played by Toby Jones in the 2014 BBC2 television film Marvellous, which received widespread critical acclaim.

Born with 'learning difficulties' and all but abandoned by his schools, Neil went on to become kit man to Stoke City FC. Lou Macari, the club's then manager, described him as 'my best-ever signing'. But who is Neil Baldwin? As a boy in a working-class part of the Potteries in the fifties and sixties, the education system wrote him off. But Neil, who believes you can just 'get things by asking for them', knows his late Mum wanted him to have a happy life, and it's his duty to her to have one. So he does. At Keele University, they hold regular celebrations and services for the decades he's been a friend to the students, academics and vice-chancellors; but he's never been a student, a teacher, or had any formal connection with the place. At Stoke City Football Club, he's 'more famous than the players'. He's even got a dialogue going with the Queen - though that one's still a little one-sided. This is the inspiring, moving and at times hysterically funny story of Neil Baldwin's marvellous life.

The back of the book's reads:

"Bishops and archbishops, top footballers, leading politicians and actors.... they all count him a friend. He has met most of the royal family. He is a freeman of the City of Stoke-on-Trent and his home town Newcastle-under-Lyme, and has his very own football club. BBC2 made an award winning TV film about him, in which he was played by Toby Jones. But who is Neil Baldwin?

When he was growing up in a working-class area of the Potteries in the fifties and sixties, the education system wrote Neil 'Nello' Baldwin off. But Neil, who believes you can just 'get things by asking for them', knows his late Mum wanted him to have a happy life, and it's his duty to her to have one. So he does, and continues to defy expectations to do things that would have made her so proud.

Keele University holds regular celebrations and services for decades Neil has been a friend to the students, academics and vice-chancellors; but he's never been a student, a teacher, or had a formal connection with the place. (Well, apart from the honorary degree the awarded him...)

At Stoke City Football Club he's 'more famous than the players'. Lou Macari, the club's then manager, took him on as a kit man and described him as 'my best ever signing'.

This is the inspiring, moving and at times hysterically funny story of Nello Baldwin's marvellous life. Many books are described as 'inspirational', but Neil's story of optimism, persistence and simple humanity is at once touching, uplifting and life-affirming."

Barewall are honoured to be able to stock the book from our Stoke on Trent gallery. 

Published by Bonnier Books.