Scarborough diarist Martin Dove shares 60 years of memories

Martin with some of the diaries from his 60 year collection.

Martin, 72, of Valley Road, Scarborough always loved reading and writing as a child, and in December 1960 his parents bought him his first diary. On January 1st 1961 he made his first of what would lead to many diary entries over the years.

He said: “I started writing in my diary, it was just something very basic like ‘wrote to Melvin watched TV’ but from that day on I never stopped. Now I have 60 years of diaries.”

Martin had forgotten about his diaries until one day 5 years ago when he was in the attic looking for something and found them.

Martin has kept a diary every day since the age of 12.

He said: “I brought them down and started reading them, I thought they were quite interesting.

"I showed them to a few friends who were fascinated by them and said I should print them or publish them online.

"I found a facebook page that I can put them on called 'I L.O.V.E. Scarborough =)' and since doing that I have 100-250 likes per day and on a good day I can get 300 and I think more people than that actually read them.

“I have found that people are very interested, especially in the 60’s ones, because they can relate to them on their own little level."

Martin also writes short stories, and last October he decided to write a book, he finished it in March, but unfortunately plans to publish have been put on hold due to coronavirus.

He said: “It is called The Brit Babes, it is set in the entertainment industry and is about the forming of a girl band, it's kind of saying be careful what you wish for, it might come true. It's about them joining the band and then what happens to them after that.”

Martin posts his diaries in the facebook group daily alongside a 2020 perspective.

He said: “I do it every day and will continue to do so for as long as I can , I have still got plenty to do.”

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