Richard Havers, who lives in Longformacus and is a long-time friend of Rolling Stone Bill Wyman, started work on 'The Stones in the Park' just before Christmas and began delving into the archives to relive memories of "an unforgettable experience."
Richard was in Hyde Park for the July 5 gig along with around a staggering 300,000 others and after the departure and death of original Stone Brian Jones and the introduction of a new member, Mick Taylor, the pressure was on the group to deliver the goods.
"The summer of 69 changed the Stones," said Richard.
"Brian Jones left the band and later died and Mick Taylor had just joined up.
"Mick Jagger got the idea for the Hyde Park gig after he saw Blind Faith just a few weeks earlier. Plans were rushed and the group didn't have that much time to rehearse, in fact even on the day of the gig they were doing a sound check in a caravan using a mouth organ!"
A lack of quality preparation meant that although it was the biggest crowd they had played to, the Stones would admit they didn't put on their best performance, however it was their introduction that would give them a label which has stuck with them to this day.
"Before the gig in 1969, the band hadn't played a full set in nearly two years," Richard continued.
"The arrival of Mick Taylor brought the more rockier sound they're known for today, unfortunately at Hyde Park they were under rehearsed and played songs that you wouldn't really have expected them to have played.
"But Sam Cutler, the guy who brought them on, said something that will stick in my memory forever. He said 'ladies and gentleman I give you the greatest rock and roll band in the world' and this, coupled with the hundreds of thousands of people in Hyde Park made the band realise their potential and the fact that they had something going for them."
Richard, like many others, has followed the Rolling Stones ever since and said writing 'The Stones in the Park', and looking at the pictures brought back some fantastic memories. He hopes that the book will give others the same opportunity as well as educating the modern generation on how the Stones got so big.
"Experiencing something yourself gives you a completely different perspective when it comes to writing a book. Hyde Park on July 2 1969 was a great place to be. Ask anyone of a certain age if they were at Hyde Park in 1969 and they will know instantly that you're talking about the Stones gig.
"It's like asking someone in America if they were at Woodstock."
From getting the ball rolling on the project to seeing the book hit the shelves has been a fairly rapid process for Richard and he is hoping that 'The Stones in the Park' will be a hit with music lovers of all ages and receive the seal of approval from his friend and Rolling Stone, Bill Wyman.
"There's never been a book about the Hyde Park gig before and I'm thrilled that the Daily Mirror picture archives had so many fantastic images. There were hundreds to choose from so it was a case of trying to shoe horn them in.
"At the same time though I wanted there to be a narrative to the book, something which you don't normally get in the majority of picture books.
"There was a real story behind the gig- it was 33 days that changed the Stones forever and fortunately they pulled together and went on to be the group we know and love today.
"One thing that really sticks in my mind is when Mick Jagger said 'I hope people don't think of us as a rock and roll outfit'- a bit ironic!
"I've talked to Bill about the book and he is excited to see the finished article. He knows that without Brian Jones there would have been no Rolling Stones and I've acknowledged that in the book."
Forty years on from their Hyde Park concert, the Rolling Stones are still selling out arenas worldwide but July 5, 1969 is a day that won't be forgotten.
Did you experience the concert first hand? If so, Richard would be interested in hearing your stories, e-mail:rhavers1@mac.com.
Richard will be signing copies of the book on Saturday, July 4 at Latimer Books, Kelso from 10am-1pm.