The Derby 9 Go To The Pyrenees

The Derby 9, a year after their adventures in Paris, decide to go for an adventure holiday this time around- to the Pyrenees in France. The Derby 9 are nine printers who work for the Trader Group of Newspapers, based in Derby in the East Midlands. Last year (1981) they went to Paris to take part in an international fashion show alongside all the Trader Group 'Ad' girls in front of the world's most famous fashion designers.

The Derby 9 are die-hard Derby County fans and their 'leader' John Thackersley, has won the Spot The Ball competition in his local newspaper. He decides to blow most of his prize money on a ski-ing holiday even though he can't even ski! And in a remarkably generous gesture, he decides to pay for his work mates to come with him! Just like John, the rest of the Derby 9 have never been near a ski slope in their life before. It's December, 1982. So, with their wives' and Mrs Hanley's (the new Trader Group owner) approval, the tight-knit group of printers embark on a week- long holiday deep into South West France where the beautiful Pyrenees' mountains await. Over the course of the next six days, the Derby 9 start to find out more about each other- and more importantly, about themselves. Their hidden strengths, their abilities and their incredible human endurance. This turns out to be no ordinary ski-ing holiday. There is drama, there is romance, there is plenty of humour and banter too. And there are examples of sheer determination and heroism- with even a case of attempted murder on the ski slopes on the Black run as one of the printers decides to attempt the impossible with near catastrophic results. The author, Mark Bishop, uses his extensive knowledge of the Pyrenees, its people, customs and culture to capture the very essence of the surroundings and situations with startling realism.

This is a ski-ing holiday the Derby 9 will never forget!