a cartoon of a man holding a book by a cafe
A caricature (not AI) commissioned by Dale of him holding his book at the boating lake Credit: Supplied

A local author wants to sponsor a Cwmbran sports or activity team for adults.

I met Dale Bradford last week for a coffee and heard about his idea to help a group from the town and promote his new book.

He has completed the third and final instalment of his sci‑fi‑meets‑mystery trilogy The Time‑Travelling Estate Agent – and he’s now looking for a local adult sports or activity team to sponsor.

The series follows Cwmbran estate agent Eric Meek, whose life changes when he’s asked to value a house with a garage that’s been converted into a time machine. The device opens a portal back to 3 July 1976 – the hottest day of the hottest year of the 20th century, and the best and worst day of Eric’s life.

Book 3 brings the whole saga to a close

Dale says the final book ties together the multi‑layered story that began in book one and continued through book two.

Eric has different adventures in each book, but “there’s an overall narrative running throughout the series which reaches a conclusion in book three,” said Dale.

“Without giving anything away, I am confident that readers who enjoyed the first two books will also like the third, and I hope they’ll think I have delivered a satisfying ending.”

Once again, Cwmbran plays a major role, with plenty of moments that will resonate with anyone who remembers the long, hot summer of 1976.

The book will be released on 3 July 2026 – exactly 50 years after the day Eric keeps returning to.

Dale said the writing process has gone “almost worryingly well”.

“Re-reading it back has been quite a moving experience as I know where the story is heading, and how it concludes,” he said.

The Time‑Travelling Estate Agent 3 will be available on Amazon in ebook (£2.99), paperback, and hardback formats, and will also be free to read on Kindle Unlimited.

Sponsorship

To mark the end of the trilogy, Dale wants to use his limited marketing budget to support a Cwmbran‑based adult team – anything from bowls and darts to chess, conkers or even cheese‑rolling.

He’s looking for a team that plays in a league and wears tops that could feature a large Time‑Travelling Estate Agent logo. If funds allow, he’d also like to sponsor warm‑up or rain jackets.

Dale is keen to stress he isn’t a millionaire benefactor.

“There are no millions. There aren’t even thousands,” he said.

“Rather than just being one of a dozen or so sponsors of an already commercially successful team, I would like my sponsorship to go to a team that would really appreciate it, and where it would make a difference to them.”

In return, he’s simply looking for exposure for the book series, including a team photo in the sponsored kit and a joint press release.

How to apply

Only the team manager or organiser should apply. Email [email protected] by Wednesday 24 June, explaining:

✅ What your team needs

✅ How much it will cost (realistic figures only)

✅ How the sponsorship would make a difference

Dale will choose one or two teams depending on budget, and Cwmbran Life will announce the successful applicant(s).