Ted, who was born in Bere Alston, and raised on a farm on the banks of the River Tamar, charms the reader in his latest book with stories and characters of — alas, for many — a forgotten age, that of the early 1950s.
It was a time where a more modern world was slowly emerging, shaped from the anvil of the second world war.
This conflict of the traditions and practises of life being eroded and replaced with the new was perhaps most prevalent in the farming community, where a slower and ordered way of life was challenged by the necessity of adapting to the increasing demands of a pacier world.
A good example of this is the 'Old Oss'.
Prince, a working heavy horse falls down dead while being shoed by the village blacksmith. Big problem.
Normally a dead beast would be whisked off to the glue factory in a lorry, but the owner's wife is determined to bury her beloved and loyal Prince, 'at home' on the farm.
There ensues a series of 'hurdles' to overcome before the beloved beast can be laid to rest.
But the dilemma becomes an allegory of old versus new — where the pulling power of the tried and tested working shire horses are matched against the latest man made innovation — the tractor.
The whole of the village is again 'under threat' from an avaricious new owner when Lol Parnell, the barber, is a whisker away from losing his shop after 40 years' service to the community.
Despite his experience, Lol is no expert when it comes to wielding a pair of scissors — short, back and sides his customers' only option.
It is also not the best kept of establishments, certainly in need of a trim.
But Lol's place is a much loved institution to the village and its closure would mean the loss of a warm place to congregate in the long winter months — so the wily parishioners must find a way to defend it at all cost!
A personal favourite is 'The Birth.'
The village taxi driver, Sam Cartwright, is a delightful character who still has not quite got hold of the reins from the transition of horse drawn vehicles to its motorised version.
Every time he puts on the brakes of his Austin taxi, he shouts 'Whoa!' and, much to the amusement of his passengers, talks to his taxi as if it was his trusty steed.
Not a man comfortable with the speed of a modern vehicle his caution is not the best of characteristics when a pregnant neighbour needs to get to maternity hospital urgently on the stormiest night of the year.
In 'Sunday Cricket' the theme continues as Ginger Hocking proposes something outrageously radical that will not only divide the West Devon sporting world, but also opinions in the whole of the parish — whether to adopt cricket on the Sabbath.
West Devon in those days was an area where Christian principles were part of the intrinsic fabric of rural society, if perhaps, not always religiously observed by the individual.
The issue divides man against son, brother against sister.
Local parish councillors are in fear of upsetting their electorate, especially with elections coming up.
It culminates in a crucial vote in an extraordinary meeting of the whole parish and the proverbial 'last ball of the over'.
What makes 'Back to the Tamar' a darn good read is that the characters and situations are so real and the small, everyday dramas of West Devon folk in the early 1950s are as true today as they have ever been.
Not unlike the annual sheep dip on a local farm, Ted Sherrell coats each tale with an affectionate layer of gentle humour.
This latest fictional offering by the author is, in my opinion, his best yet.
Unlike the result of 'Sunday Cricket', this particular reader will not, as some of the story's parish councillors, be sitting on the fence.
Ted Sherrell's 'Back to the Tamar' unequivocally gets my vote.
Back to the Tamar by Ted Sherrell is published by United Writers Publications Ltd of Penzance. Priced at £16.95. ISBN 9781852001636.
A book signing by the author will be held at Bookstop, Market Street, Tavistock on Friday, October 4.
JOHN HUTCHINS
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