WHO was Betty? That’s the question behind a new book speculating on identity of the mysterious figure who inspired North Yorkshire’s famous tearooms, writes Sophie Wills.

Alan Ayckbourn, Kay Mellor, Jilly Cooper, Joanne Harris and Alan Titchmarsh are among the bestselling authors, playwrights and celebrities who have supported the publication, alongside Mike Pannett, Philippa Gregory, Ian McMillan, Jack Shepherd and Barbara Taylor Bradford.

Published in aid of the Yorkshire Rainforest Project, Who Was Betty? is a collection of specially-written stories, poems and cartoons from people “close to Yorkshire’s heart”.

Each contribution draws speculation to the identity of the mysterious Betty, allegedly the inspiration behind Swiss confectioner Fredrick Belmont’s tea room business Bettys Café Tea Rooms, which were established in Harrogate in 1919 and opened later in York in the 1920s.

Playwright Ayckbourn said: “‘Betty was dreamed up by the tearoom’s first public relations officer in 1922 who created the mnemonic ‘Best Ever Tasty Teas Yet’ which’ because of lack of space on the cafe’s original frontage, was immediately shortened to BETTY.”

Jilly Coooper said: “Betty was a Yorkshire lass full of dreams and oozing class”, while Joanne Harris claimed Betty was really “a small boy, by the name of Charlie Finn, who lived on the back streets of Harrogate”.

The book, which has been illustrated by York artist Emily Sutton, includes a foreword by The Prince of Wales, who is the founder of The Yorkshire Rainforest Project.

The book also includes a story from Bettys family member Jonathan Wild.

It also features an intriguing anonymous contribution that was slipped under the door of the tea rooms in a crumpled envelope, written by an unseen hand.

Priced at £5.99, all profits go towards the project, which aims to save an area on the verge of destruction in the Amazon rainforest. Una Heron, manager at Bettys in York, believes that current interest in the project from customers will propel sales of the book.

“We’ve been bowled over by the enthusiasm and support to date from customers for our Yorkshire Rainforest Project,” said Una.

“We have great hopes that sales of the new book will raise more than £40,000 towards our long-term aim to save an area of rainforest the size of Yorkshire.”

• “Who Was Betty?” is available from Monday at the six Bettys tearooms in York, Northallerton, Harrogate and Ilkley. It is also available to buy from the Bettys online shop at bettys.co.uk