Finally, it’s happened!

It was 55 years ago that my parents gave me a copy of Ask the Fellows who Cut the Hay, a book that captured my young imagination. The book tells the stories George Ewart Evans collected, from people he met, about how life was lived in rural East Suffolk in the early years of the 20th century. So much was familiar, and so much more I wanted to learn.

I said that one day I would write a similar book and now, in a few short weeks, Where are the Fellows who Cut the Hay will be on sale. Last week I was at Clays in Bungay, signing copies for my publisher Unbound so was able to bring a few copies home with me. Realising a long held ambition triggers a range of emotions, and it’s been hard to focus on anything new with these books on the shelf behind me. I’m looking forward to learning what readers and reviewers make of the book.

I’m also really looking forward to invitations to speak about both the book, and how researching it gave me confidence about our future. So many old ways are returning, from regenerative farming to community owned village shops. It’s going to be an interesting year!