LIKE MANY parents and grandparents, Geoff Wood had a stock of stories that he made up, told and re-told to his granddaughter Alex.

LIKE MANY parents and grandparents, Geoff Wood had a stock of stories that he made up, told and re-told to his granddaughter Alex.

But it was one in particular, about the Glue Fairy (who fixed broken toys), that both she and he particularly enjoyed.

But it was one in particular, about the Glue Fairy (who fixed broken toys), that both she and he particularly enjoyed.

“I began telling her the story when she was quite small, about five or six,’’ explained Geoff, who, together with his wife Diane, raised their granddaughter from infancy. Alex is now 18.

“I began telling her the story when she was quite small, about five or six,’’ explained Geoff, who, together with his wife Diane, raised their granddaughter from infancy. Alex is now 18.

“ I’d make a bit up every night and as it was coming to the end I thought to myself that it wasn’t bad at all,’’ he added.

“ I’d make a bit up every night and as it was coming to the end I thought to myself that it wasn’t bad at all,’’ he added.

The tale is about a mischievous fairy who puts glue on toilet seats and then needs rescuing by the central character, a little girl called Alex, who is preparing to be a bridesmaid for the first time.

The tale is about a mischievous fairy who puts glue on toilet seats and then needs rescuing by the central character, a little girl called Alex, who is preparing to be a bridesmaid for the first time.

Geoff wrote the story down and thought about calling it The Glue Fairy, but decided in the end to entitle it ‘When Alex Got Stuck to the Toilet’ because it captured some of the humour.

Geoff wrote the story down and thought about calling it The Glue Fairy, but decided in the end to entitle it ‘When Alex Got Stuck to the Toilet’ because it captured some of the humour.

Twelve years ago he began sending his modern fairytale to a number of publishers but without any success. And there the project might have ground to a halt but for Geoff’s determination to see his story in book form.

Twelve years ago he began sending his modern fairytale to a number of publishers but without any success. And there the project might have ground to a halt but for Geoff’s determination to see his story in book form.

With a background in art and design Geoff, 66, who lives in Fixby and is well known for his sporting portraits and caricatures, was tempted to illustrate his story but says he had been told that publishers liked to commission their own illustrators.

With a background in art and design Geoff, 66, who lives in Fixby and is well known for his sporting portraits and caricatures, was tempted to illustrate his story but says he had been told that publishers liked to commission their own illustrators.

“But as I kept getting knocked back I thought that I’d go ahead anyway, do some illustrations and publish it myself,’’ he said.

“But as I kept getting knocked back I thought that I’d go ahead anyway, do some illustrations and publish it myself,’’ he said.

‘When Alex Got Stuck to the Toilet’ - a title that will undoubtedly attract the attention of young readers - is now in the process of being proof-read before printing by a West Yorkshire publishing company.

‘When Alex Got Stuck to the Toilet’ - a title that will undoubtedly attract the attention of young readers - is now in the process of being proof-read before printing by a West Yorkshire publishing company.

“They’re sorting out an ISBN number and I’m getting 1,000 copies printed,’’ said Geoff, who is thrilled that his story is finally going to be available to a wider audience.

“They’re sorting out an ISBN number and I’m getting 1,000 copies printed,’’ said Geoff, who is thrilled that his story is finally going to be available to a wider audience.

The book may be long in the making but it has a certain poignancy for its author and his wife Diane, who is bursar at a primary school in Golcar.

The book may be long in the making but it has a certain poignancy for its author and his wife Diane, who is bursar at a primary school in Golcar.

It is dedicated to their son Matthew, Alex’s father, who died four years ago.

It is dedicated to their son Matthew, Alex’s father, who died four years ago.

Geoff and Diane used to live in Manchester but moved to Huddersfield when Alex was still a toddler.

Geoff and Diane used to live in Manchester but moved to Huddersfield when Alex was still a toddler.

“We thought it was a good place to bring her up,’’ said Geoff, who ran his own business in Manchester, manufacturing printing cylinders for wallpaper and textile companies.

“We thought it was a good place to bring her up,’’ said Geoff, who ran his own business in Manchester, manufacturing printing cylinders for wallpaper and textile companies.

A former student of Manchester Art School, Geoff spent many years working in the textile and wallpaper design industry.

A former student of Manchester Art School, Geoff spent many years working in the textile and wallpaper design industry.

He sold his company 20 years ago to pursue a second career as an artist and today offers his services as a portraitist and caricaturist. (Examples of his work can be seen at www.geoffreytwood.co.uk).

He sold his company 20 years ago to pursue a second career as an artist and today offers his services as a portraitist and caricaturist. (Examples of his work can be seen at www.geoffreytwood.co.uk).

One of his main claims to fame was being asked by Huddersfield Town Football Club to paint a montage depicting their 90th anniversary 10 years ago and to design a limited edition of china plates and tankards. The painting was put into print and sold, along with the plates and tankards, to Town supporters.

One of his main claims to fame was being asked by Huddersfield Town Football Club to paint a montage depicting their 90th anniversary 10 years ago and to design a limited edition of china plates and tankards. The painting was put into print and sold, along with the plates and tankards, to Town supporters.

This commission led to him being asked by Wembley to undergo a similar exercise depicting ‘The end of an era’ when the old Wembley stadium was pulled down.

This commission led to him being asked by Wembley to undergo a similar exercise depicting ‘The end of an era’ when the old Wembley stadium was pulled down.

Every festive season, Geoff produces a Christmas card for the Wooden Spoon charity, which helps needy children. “I heard about it because a pal of mine is the Yorkshire representative. It’s a fantastic charity,’’ he said.

Every festive season, Geoff produces a Christmas card for the Wooden Spoon charity, which helps needy children. “I heard about it because a pal of mine is the Yorkshire representative. It’s a fantastic charity,’’ he said.

The charity was founded in the wake of a humiliating England rugby defeat in 1983 when a group of friends who travelled to the Five Nations match against Ireland were awarded the wooden spoon by rival supporters.

The charity was founded in the wake of a humiliating England rugby defeat in 1983 when a group of friends who travelled to the Five Nations match against Ireland were awarded the wooden spoon by rival supporters.

The friends resolved to have a charity golf match to see who would have the honour of keeping the spoon. The money raised bought a minibus for a local school and the idea for a charity was born.

The friends resolved to have a charity golf match to see who would have the honour of keeping the spoon. The money raised bought a minibus for a local school and the idea for a charity was born.

It was while chatting to someone at Charlesworths, where the card was being printed last year, that Geoff mentioned his book.

It was while chatting to someone at Charlesworths, where the card was being printed last year, that Geoff mentioned his book.

“I asked if they did that sort of thing and they rattled off a few proof copies for me. The finished book will be available in a couple of months,’’ he said.

“I asked if they did that sort of thing and they rattled off a few proof copies for me. The finished book will be available in a couple of months,’’ he said.

And how does Alex feel about being the leading character in a children’s book?“Well, she’s a teenager now so she might well be a little bit embarrassed but I hope she’ll also be pleased,’’ said Geoff.

And how does Alex feel about being the leading character in a children’s book?“Well, she’s a teenager now so she might well be a little bit embarrassed but I hope she’ll also be pleased,’’ said Geoff.

Certainly, not many of us get to see the stuff of our childhood fantasies in print.

Certainly, not many of us get to see the stuff of our childhood fantasies in print.