Bob Dobson is a retired Lancashire Policeman in his sixties. He is a native of Accrington and never stops saying so. He lives near Blackpool and operates his business from home. He is a Friend of Real Lancashire - the whole county of which the Queen is the Duke.

Firstly Bob deals in secondhand books, specialising in Lancashire, Yorkshire and Cheshire local history, dialect and literature. He issues an occasional catalogue and searches for books in these fields.

Secondly he publishes new books under the imprint of Landy Publishing (L and Y = Lancashire and Yorkshire). Since 1981 he has published many Lancashire local history and dialect books.

Bob's books carry his logo - a lad cleaning his clogs on the back of his sock. Some years ago Bob wrote 'Concerning Clogs' and became the world authority on clogs. He coined the phrase 'clogs have souls as well as soles'.

To fill in his time, Bob speaks to groups on his favourite subject - Lancashire Dialect.