AN audiobook written, narrated and recorded in Newton Abbot has won a prestigious radio industry award.

Kirk Fields’ ‘Rave New World: Confessions of a Raving Reporter’ won silver at the Association of Radio Industries Awards, beating the likes of Stephen Fry and Alan Partridge in the process.

The Newton Abbot author memoir has caught the attention of the likes of Robbie Williams and Gok Wan MBE, to several top disc jockeys, including Fatboy Slim and Carl Cox.

Kirk chose to record his audiobook at a small home studio in Newton Abbot rather than travel to London.

Local DJ and producer, Matthew Ward, who also works as a course director at Deep Blue Sound in Plymouth, recorded the audiobook, crafting sound design elements to enhance some passages.

‘The book was conceived and written in my garden and greenhouse during lockdown, and I felt it fitting to record the audiobook here also’ Kirk said.

‘I had full faith in Matt and the reaction has vindicated my decision.

‘It’s important that creatives in South Devon realise they can achieve things without having to leave the area’ Kirk added.

Kirk launched his book at Newton Abbot’s Phoenix Sounds, which led to a 13 night run at the Edinburgh fringe for his one man show, Acid House Cabaret.

A theatre tour across the UK is being pencilled in for later this year.

Kirk began documenting dance music and rave culture in 1989, spurred into action after reading what he deemed to be inaccurate and hysterical tabloid reports of the very same acid house parties he’d often attend.