FOR the many folk who a few years ago were captivated by Angela Lord's volume of Reminiscences, entitled, intriguingly 'What If God's A Bullock?' the news is good — she has just penned a sequel, and equally positive tidings are that this follow-up publication is as good as the first.

The book is in two parts, although the bulk is contained in part one. Here she follows a pattern similar in some degree to that of her first publication, although 'Every Picture Tells A Story' is subtly different.

The title is, in a sense most apt, for while the only actual photographs are an interesting miscellany on the front cover, the author's richly descriptive style creates pictures and images in the minds of the readers, with no further illumination being needed.

Born and bred in Kent, she chronicles much of her life as a girl and a young woman growing up in the South East plus the lives and experiences of her close family. The tales are gentle and humorous yet embody a depth of perception which brings to the reader vividly a clear illustration of a culture and way of life long since passed into social history.

Her father's experiences working in a mental hospital on Dartford Heath are told in a deftly understated way which serves astutely to make them vary from the alarming to the hilarious, while her own working life for an estate agent then a doctor, will strike chords with many readers when recalling their own early encounters and problems in the everyday world.

These episodes, though, might be for many local folk, the hors d'oeuve — albeit, a 'tasty' one; they might well consider the 'main course' to be the section devoted to the writer's experiences and exploits following her move, with husband Chris and family, to Devon in the early 1980s.

Budleigh Salterton, and the ownership of a restaurant, was the initial venture, but the attractions of running such an establishment dimmed, and soon afterwards they moved to Horrabridge, where they acquired some land — and where they still reside.

Angela writes of her desire to run a smallholding and to pursue 'The Good Life'.

Her fulfillment in this shines clearly in her writing — likewise in another occupation which she undertook for some time; as usher in the Tavistock and Okehampton Magistrates' Courts, a position she occupied until the closure of the Tavistock Court in 2000.

Her tales of myriad 'clientele' coming before the bench during these years are a pure joy — a glorious piece of writing. She has the rare ability to be able to tell of a funny or strange incident with an economy and astute choice of words which serve to enhance the story.

The second part of the book is devoted to a local fellow, the late Albert White whom the author knew for a number of years.

Her recounting of many of the hilarious, sometimes calamitous, often moving episodes of his serving career as a Royal Marine is crisp, yet evocative, as is the way she tells of the long, fruitful life of someone who epitomised the Devon countryman — an independent, generally genial, resilient, occasionally 'bloody minded' fellow who was truly his 'own man', and as good a friend as anyone could ever know.

The pages devoted to the life and times of Albert White, like those based on the lives and experiences of herself and her family, fascinate not merely because they are imbued with individuality and interest but also, because of the vibrancy, clarity and skill of her penmanship.

Angela Lord has delivered another book which is a pleasure to read and an asset if possessed.

'Every Picture Tells A Story' by Angela E Lord is priced £7.50 (+ £1.70 p and p if required, available from the author at 27, Walkhampton Road, Horrabridge PL20 7SJ 01822 853924 or at Horrabridge Post Office.

Proceeds after costs to be donated to St John The Baptist Church, Horrabridge.

Ted Sherrell