Bedeguar Books have many new titles planned for publication during 2010 and production of several of these is already under way.
We are pleased to announce that our new books will include:
Farmer John - John Forward.
In this fully illustrated autobiography, John tells of the Forward family tree and Chapmanslade; his education at Corsley and later at Sambourne School, Warminster; the farms in Corsley, particularly Pope's Farm, Warden's Farm, and Long Hedge Farm, where he was a tenant farmer on the Longleat Estate; the village characters of Corsley; and the customary events which filled the local calendar. But this book is more than a village history, because John led such a very interesting life. He relates his experiences as a dowser; his researches into Woodhouse Castle, near Horningsham; the story behind "the grail" buried deep within Cley Hill; his own explorations of the tunnels under the landscape connecting Longleat House with Cley Hill, Norridge and the Parish Church Of St. Denys' in Warminster; and the establishment of the Longhedge farm machinery and rural collection. Plus his fundraising for charities, and much, much more. Illustrated throughout. Most of this book is based on tape-recorded interviews made with John Forward by Danny Howell, at a time when John was ill - prior to his moving into a nursing home, where he later died. This book will delight farming folk and country-lovers for sure.
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Sutton Veny History - David Eyres and Danny Howell.
Farmer David Eyres and historian Danny Howell have joined forces to produce a series of fascinating books which bring together many previously unseen pictures, documents and items of memorabilia concerning the village of Sutton Veny. Tape-recorded interviews and gleanings from the archives also combine to give a unique portrait of all things Sutton Veny from farming to local businesses and shops, the military connection, churches and chapel, the school, transport and communications, clubs and societies, and the sporting life, as well as people, places, buildings and events. The village teams for bowls, cricket and football; the game of Pushball; the old inns of the village; a history of F. &. G. Sykes, and their poultry and pig business; the archaeology of the local landscape; and a host of country characters; are just a few of the topics to be regaled in print. Lavishly illustrated too. A must for anyone who loves Sutton Veny or the Wylye Valley.
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George Mitchell.
Born in Winterbourne Stoke, the son of a clever farm worker, George Mitchell tells his charmed life story, growing up in the village, helping out on a farm and witnessing the events of the Second World War years; working on a farm at Wishford, and progressing to a career as a farm manager. Plus his military service and memories of his time as a member of the Royal Signals White Helmets motorcycle display team. Now living in retirement at Upton Lovell in the Wylye Valley, George takes part in vintage ploughing matches with a Nuffield tractor he restored from poor condition, and all of this is included in the book too. Based on the tape-recordings made by Danny Howell. Fully illustrated.
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Percy And Me - Laura Trollope.
Laura Trollope, born in 1909, was the youngest daughter of the blacksmith Nelson Dewey, whose forge was at Emwell Street, Warminster; and the niece of the revered schoolmaster Harold Dewey, local councillor, and headmaster of the Avenue School for 22 years. Brought up in the Baptist faith, Laura married farmer Percy Trollope, of Horningsham. They started their married life on a farm at Blackford, near Wincanton, Somerset, and later moved to Broomclose Farm, Longbridge Deverill, where their two sons Clive and Earl are still farm-based today at Broomclose and Wing Farm. Percy, a keen historian, became the first curator of the museum in Warminster, in the days when it was housed in Curfew Cottage behind St. Laurence's Chapel. This is a delightful story, told by a delightful lady, as tape-recorded by Danny Howell, just a year or two before Laura, who was then residing at Westbury, passed away. Illustrated throughout.
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Offline - Danny Howell.
A new series of books, each featuring a variety of illustrated articles which will complement Danny Howell's Warminster and Wylye Valley website which will be launched in 2010. The first volume will include a photographic record of the long life spent in music by the late Bernie Reynolds of Warminster; an account of the prize-winning herd of Shorthorn cattle bred by Dean Willis at Bapton; the story of the Reverend Horace Wake of St. John's, Warminster, and the Boreham scout troop he founded and its summer camps in Norfolk and Belgium and elsewhere, as remembered by the young lads (now senior citizens) who were members of the troop, including Doug Dawkins and Doug Lakey; and the story concerning the time when American troops were billeted in the Old Brewery buildings in Warminster, where the cartoon illustrations of one of them, Private Bob Wise, who worked for Walt Disney, can still be seen drawn on the walls today. A fascinating collection of articles by Warminster's leading local historian. Fully illustrated throughout. A must-have anthology for the book shelf of every home in Warminster and the Wylye Valley.
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Heytesbury And Tytherington - Roger Osborne.
Following in the footsteps of his father, Garnett Osborne, who farmed at Parsonage Farm, Heytesbury, Roger Osborne farmed Manor Farm at Tytherington, keeping a herd of Shorthorn cattle and serving as President of the Shorthorn Cattle Society. In this, his autobiography, Roger recalls attending Mrs Fraser's school in Warminster, before attending Lord Weymouth's Grammar School and Dauntsey's agricultural school. This is a story of farming and the countryside as experienced by one of the Wylye Valley's best known and respected farmers. From the transcripts of recordings made by Danny Howell and fully illustrated throughout with many previously unpublished photographs.
Archaeology - Robert Smith.
We are pleased to say we are bringing together a book featuring the field-work, notes and photography of the late Robert Smith, a former Royal Navy helicopter pilot who later became an archaeologist with Wiltshire County Council. Included are his proposals for an archaeology visitor centre he planned as a public attraction on the Longleat Estate. Sadly, Robert Smith passed away while still a young man, and these plans never went ahead without him. The book also includes memories of "Bob" by his family, friends and colleagues.
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Other titles will be announced soon - watch this space for further details.
