A VERY special book is taking shape in West Devon — the combined efforts of 12 people covering an incredible 600 years between them.
The book is a collection of anecdotes, memories, poems and pictures creating a vivid image of life during the first half of the last century.
It is the project of clients at Tavistock's Social Services' Harewood Day Centre — now in the editing stage, the book is due to be published this spring.
The authors range in age from 'baby' of the group, Eric Bradbury, who is a mere 69, to Grace Cramp, who is 91. Many of them have lived through the horrors of two world wars — some in this country, jumping into gutters to dodge the bombs like 86-year-old Doris Hadgkiss, to 87-year-old Joe White who spent his war years in India.
Joe remembers with affection the gentle and intelligent elephants so much a part of life in India when he was there.
'To this day I grow angry when I hear of ivory poachers slaughtering these magnificent animals,' he writes.
On the other hand, the local big cats demanded a different type of respect.
'There were still plenty of tigers about, but they avoided us, being bright enough to know that men with rifles were bad news for tigers!
'The exceptions were tigresses with their cubs — they would defend their young with such courage and ferocity we would move around them, rather than be forced into shooting them.'
George Francis, 84, recalls summer holidays spent in Cleethorpes.
'In the evenings we used to play the gramophone. This machine had a big horn. The records were like tubes that you put on a cone.
'My family would make me stand on a table so I would sing to them with the music. In return I would get some sweets!'
Grace can remember her father's allotment and the dung he would carry from the stables for fertiliser — which he was only allowed to do before 8am or after 6pm because of the smell!
Dorothy Souter, a sprightly 89-year-old, remembers how days of the week took on a pattern, starting with washday on Monday when the fire under the copper was lit at 8am, ready for the whites wash.
And Tom Measures, 75, who freely admits he has toned down his youthful adventures for publication, spent many years abroad.
'I was in tea when I was 18, in India,' he said.
'Then I didn't go abroad again until I was 30, when I took my family to the Solomon Islands. I was trying to improve the diet of the native people there, who are some of the most primitive people in the world.'
Tom tried to discourage 'slash and burn agriculture' and introduce peanut growing and pig breeding.
The title chosen for the Harewood Day Centre book is Harvest of Years — a special launch is being planned at The Wharf for June.
Di Wilson, a social worker student at Harewood last year, who had the original idea for the book, said it was vital to record such memories, so they could be passed down through the generations.
'Because they had done these things themselves it seemed very ordinary to them, but we felt "My goodness!"
'We made lots of assumptions about the way things were and in most cases, we were very wrong. It was very interesting and very educational,' she said.
Dot Jones, officer in charge at the day centre, was full of enthusiasm for the way the project had taken off.
She said: 'Some people have done poems, some have done little ditties, some have done recipes.
'We gave everyone a notebook to jot down their memories, the most important bits in their lives and it just grew from there.'
Dot said they received invaluable help from author John Pegg who is editing the book, plus much support and encouragement from clinical psychologist Mike Bender.
It has also been difficult for the clients to find time for the book in Harewood's packed programme, which ranges from swimming sessions to blind date competitions!
They have delved deep into the photo albums to root out some precious old pictures to illustrate the book. 'They are amazing, absolutely amazing' said Dot.
The next challenge for Dot and her team is raising the £2,000 required to get the book printed. 'We are hoping that perhaps we could find a sponsor to help, although we realise these are hard times,' said Dot.
'It's been fun and hard work and has really given people a sense of self-worth.'