When we created My Name Is on the Line, our hope was simple: that the book would bring people closer to the Thomas Cook Boot & Clothing Company’s business, story and people.

Here, in managing director Murray Cook’s words, is what the process and impact of creating the centenary book was like.

We have sent out over 1000 books to our customers, and we have had some lovely calls and emails thanking us… The overwhelming comment was that it made them feel closer to our family after reading our stories. Val, we are very thankful that you made this book happen…

This project was huge; we really did underestimate what doing this book involved… We thought if we are going to put our 100 years of history into a book, then we need to make sure we put in as much of that history as we can. I went and dragged out all my old achieve boxes – some other family members referred to my archive boxes as boxes of junk. But these boxes helped us to remember our stories over my forty-seven years at Thomas Cook. With Mum being in her late eighties and Dad in his early nineties, they were able to fill in many of the earlier stories from my grandparents’ days when they were starting this business.

After two years, eighteen manuscripts and many lost weekends, I think together we nailed it – this book is an absolute pleasure to hand out to customers and friends showing how Thomas and Doris Cook started their journey over 100 years ago, and how the company evolved into what it is today.

We are all so proud to now have our family history in a book for future generations to read.

Stories like this are why we do what we do – helping families and businesses preserve the moments that matter in a form that lasts.