A BOOK awarded to a schoolboy way back in 1871 has been returned after a global voyage spanning 144 years – only to be received by the descendent of the headmaster who first presented it.

The leather-bound boys’ adventure book, 'In the Wilds of Africa', has quite a tale to tell of its own, after it was taken to Australia by an emigrating Englishman before it has finally been returned 'home' to Stokesley, North Yorkshire.

It was posted to Keith and Val Burton, from Stokesley Heritage Project, by John Schubert from Mitcham in Victoria, Australia.

He bought it in 1990 at his children’s school fete in a Melbourne suburb and it then sat on his bookshelf for 23 years until he was looking to slim down his collection as he prepared to move home.

Mr Schubert noticed from the bookplate, that it had been presented in 1871 to Edmund Barker at Preston Grammar School, Stokesley, for coming second in Latin and was signed by headmaster Henry Fawcett.

Mr Schubert searched the internet for the school – now a pizza takeaway – and offered to donate it to Stokesley Heritage Project, posting it to Keith and Val.

Keith, from Nunthorpe, Middlesbrough, said; “The book was given as a prize in 1871 by Henry Fawcett, who was headmaster of the school for 40 years. But the funny thing is, he’s actually related to my wife, Val.”

The book’s own historic voyage has now been traced by the history society and Mr Schubert.

They found Edmund Barker became a solicitor in Hartlepool and later moved to Cornwall, where he died in 1911. He had no sons of his own, but another inscription on the book, W Dawe, from New Mill, revealed it was given to a William Dawe who grew up on a farm less than two miles from Edmund’s Cornish home.

William Dawe emigrated to Australia, taking the book with him, and settled in Melbourne. He died in 1989, the year before Mr Schubert purchased the book.

Mr Schubert has put together a potted history of the book, in which he states; “After two voyages halfway around the globe, it is pleasing to know that Edmund Barker’s book prize, albeit somewhat battered, is back where it belongs, and will be preserved.”

Keith said: “William Dawe was a farmer when he went out to settle in Victoria in Australia. Obviously he treasured it because he took it to Australia with him and then kept it his whole life.

“We haven’t really decided what we’re going to do with it yet, but at the moment we’re just thrilled to have it.”

For more information on Stokesley Heritage Project, visit: http://stokesleyheritage.wikidot.com/