A lifelong passion for automobile heritage has driven a prolific writer to release a new volume.
Roderic James Ashley, aged 73, has brought out his 33rd publication, 40 Motoring Heroes: Pioneers, Inventors, Mavericks, and Game Changers, chronicling the narratives of significant figures in the automotive sector.
The work examines the lives of individuals who transformed the industry through creativity, resolve, and perseverance.
Mr Ashley explained that the history of automobiles and those who shaped it had long captured his imagination.
He noted the drive, tenacity and ingenuity displayed by visionaries who developed groundbreaking concepts, from the windscreen wiper to the hydraulic lift.
He also referenced the multifaceted abilities spanning design, engineering, production methods and leadership shown by some contributors.
He cited figures like Bruce McLaren, who possessed these qualities in abundance alongside remarkable courage and talent as a Formula One driver while overcoming a physical impairment.
Although many individuals highlighted in the publication receive recognition for their accomplishments, Mr Ashley also investigates the nuances of their personalities.
He stresses that professional achievement does not necessarily indicate moral perfection, observing that certain figures displayed challenging character traits on their path to success.
Numerous subjects covered in the book earn praise for their accomplishments but some failed to benefit financially from their creations, despite their contributions significantly enriching the automotive realm.
The publication showcases not merely technical innovation but also struggles against discrimination, acts of courage, selflessness and poverty.
Mr Ashley dedicates special focus to women within the field whose successes frequently emerged despite considerable social obstacles.
This release represents a shift from his previous output, which predominantly addressed education, job market readiness and career guidance. He claims to have been the inaugural individual in Britain to popularise the concept of employability, and his publications have achieved strong sales, especially across Australia and New Zealand.
Since retiring, he has redirected his focus toward automotive subjects, writing for periodicals and authoring associated volumes.
Among his recent works is one examining wartime intelligence operations and the extraction of wolfram in neutral Portugal during the Second World War.
Mr Ashley resided in Abergavenny for an extended period while instructing pupils at Croesyceiliog School in Cwmbran. Subsequently he held positions as a further and higher education lecturer before ultimately serving as head of the Welsh Secondary Schools Association, collaborating with schools throughout the country.
He also established multiple consultancy enterprises and has recently departed from his role as chief executive of Tafflab, a South Wales Valleys mentorship initiative that has assisted numerous young individuals in establishing their own ventures.