THOSE who have answered an appeal to contribute to a book about the parish of Shaugh Prior will have the chance to meet its author at the Shaugh Summer Fayre on Sunday August 24.

Don Balkwill, who grew up or lived in the parish — Shaugh Prior, Wotter, Lee Moor, and Shaugh Bridge — has now finished 'The Book of Shaugh Parish, It's a Shaugh Thing' due for publication by Halsgrove Publishers in October.

There are stories and recollections from people well into their 70s, who lived in 'The Colony', a collection of shacks built during the second world war to shelter families during the blitz of Plymouth.

There are many photographs of people and places — photographs from various pantomimes performed at the hall in Lee Moor, ones of the annual carnival in Lee Moor and of Shaugh Prior Primary School going back to the 1930s.

There are also photographs of buildings no longer in existence or which changed out of all recognition, like the clay works at Shaugh Bridge.

The book is, as the author says, an 'unashamedly nostalgic' collection of stories and pictures of the parish told and viewed through the eyes of those who lived, worked, or visited the area.

Don Balkwill has attracted contributions from the village and surrounding area, which capture the spirit of times past. 

Among those are: Stan Brown on what life was like when there were only 23 dwellings in Shaugh Prior, Joyce Lillicrap telling about her time living at Spring Cottages, the school, pantomime and Girl Guides.

Gladdy Northmore gives an insight into the dances held at Huxton Farm in the 1920s and Margaret Anstis provides a moving description of her husband, Eric Anstis, who was head of Shaugh Prior Primary for 16 years.

David Tyrrell tells of buying Wagon Wheels and sherbet dabs at the Post Office by the church; Sandra Jellyman writes of the much loved school cook Mabel Legg and school dinners; Malcolm Clarke recalls his school friends David Vincent, Roger Parsons, Barry Hawke, and Romaine Broome; Susan Walke describes how Mrs Armistead, the head teacher, would peel an apple in one long strip and give it to a favoured pupil and Joyce Horsley gives a descriptive account of life in 'The Colony' Shaugh Bridge between 1941 and 1944.

Contributors will have a chance to see what the book is likely to look like at Shaugh Prior Summer Fayre between 11am to 4am with proofs of his work, so that they can correct any errors or make alterations before the book is finalised to be brought out in October.

Published by Halsgrove Publishing of Wellington, Somerset, the book can be ordered on http://www.halsgrove.co.uk">www.halsgrove.co.uk or telephone 01823 653777.