A POET who came up with an idea for a collection of poems in 1980 has - 30 years on - seen it hit the shelves.

Letchworth GC-based writer John Gohorry started thinking about publishing a book of poems, which follows the fortunes of British author Samuel Johnson from birth until death, while lecturing at North Hertfordshire College three decades ago.

Since then John, who is poet-in-residence at David’s Bookshop, has had little time to put his idea into print but following retirement in 2006, has finally seen Samuel Johnson’s Amber published.

The book, which centres on Johnson’s 1755 work Dictionary of the English Language and is offset against the life of a fictional Romany traveller from Scotland, contains 105 poems in total.

Speaking after receiving news that will publish the book, John, of Bedford Road, said: “The first eight years was spent trying to get a hold on it seeing how it could be developed.

“It’s been almost complete since 1992 but sometimes I’ve been really battling quite hard to get it right.

“The book as a whole has been hard to place but here it is at last.

“I’m over the moon and I’m very pleased with it. I think it’s been beautifully produced.”

Samuel Johnson’s Amber is published by Shoestring Press, priced at �12.50 and is available from all good bookshops.