specialists in local books and authors inc. Hardy & Fowles

THE TELL OF A VERY GOOD LIFE

(FROM PORTSMOUTH TO ASKERSWELL)

By Rosemary and Bill Fry

Bill was born in Gosport, Hampshire and due to the war, finished his education at eleven years old. He served in Egypt at the end of the war and went on to work as a naval architect, insurance salesman and estate agent. He became a conservative councillor in the 1960s, a Labour supporter in the 1980s and Chair of Askerswell parish council in the 1990s!

Bill and his wife Rosemary moved to Dorset in 1987. Rosemary, an ex-teacher was always interested in creative writing and entered a competition organised by the Observer newspaper, to tell 20th century ordinary lives. Her winning story, about her life on the Isle of Wight, Gosport, Portsmouth and Dorset was buried in a time capsule at the British Library to celebrate the millennium. Sadly Rosemary died three years later but her writing success inspired Bill to tell his story too.

The resulting publication unites Bill and Rosemary's story providing an interesting insight into how lives have changed since the early part of the 20th century. Bill writes of their childhood escapades, war adventures, romances, varied business ventures, local politics in ever expanding Portsmouth and of his retirement with Rosemary in Askerswell. This wonderful 'Tell' is well illustrated with photographs taken from the family album.

Bill has always been, and still is, a person full of mischief and fun; an individual who has never been afraid of expressing his own individual slant on life. Only Bill could have become involved with some of the colourful characters he writes about in this book, including the notorious John Profumo.

Comments Bill Fry: ' It is astonishing how much life has changed for ordinary people in Hampshire and Dorset. I first saw Rosemary in 1945 and we had a good life together for over 55 years. My grandchildren love to hear how we lived in the past. Writing this book has been a challenge for someone like me who had very little education, but I have enjoyed every minute of it'.

THE TELL OF A VERY GOOD LIFE

by Bill and Rosemary Fry

is available from The Bookshop in South Street, Bridport.

Bill turned up at The Book Shop 6 Oct, for a successful signing.