A BOOK on Bow, charting the village?s history and people, has just been published by Mrs Gertrude Hird, who has lived there for more than 45 years. Mrs Hird, 75, has just completed her second book, entitled ?Bow: A Special Place?, which is all about the village and its people, and is brimming with photographs and stories. Gertrude was a farmer?s daughter who grew up in North Tawton and left school at 14 to help on the farm. She moved with her parents to farm in Cumbria, where her father became well known as a cattle dealer. There she met and married her late husband Lawrence, who was also involved in farming. The couple returned to live in Bow in 1958 and Gertrude became involved in a number of village activities. This book follows the success of her first book, about her own life in the country, ?From Humble Beginnings?. From sales of the book, she was able to donate £1,000 to the British Heart Foundation. The profit from her second book will be donated to Bow Doctor?s Surgery and is available at the Londis Stores at the Burstron Inn, at Bow. ?From Humble Beginnings? is also still available, price £3.50.