Celebrating Beaconsfield ’ s Past :
Alison Uttley , ‘ Spinner of Tales ’ creator of Little Grey Rabbit
It is sad to note that our town has few , if any , reminders of Alison Uttley , one of Beaconsfield ’ s many famous authors , who lived here from 1938 to 1976 .
From 24 June to 1 July 2017 , the Beaconsfield Society will be putting on an ‘ Alison Uttley Week ’ to raise awareness of , and to celebrate , her work .
Alison ’ s first book for children , ‘ The Squirrel , the Hare and the Little Grey Rabbit ’ was published in 1929 . It was the first of what was to become a world-famous series of charming country tales .
Alison moved to Beaconsfield in 1938 , the same year as Enid Blyton ( unfortunately , she took a great dislike to her fellow author , whom she called a ‘ vulgar , curled woman ’). Her house , ‘ Thackers ’, still stands today in Ellwood Road . She lived there until her death in 1976 , and is buried in Penn churchyard .
Alison wrote over 100 books , most of them for children . Her works for adults include the famous semi-autobiographical ‘ The Country Child ’, ‘ Ambush of Young Days ’ and ‘ A Year in the Country ’, all drawing on her deep love and knowledge of the countryside . In 1939 , she also published a popular historical novel , ‘ A Traveller in Time ’.
The full programme for the Society ’ s ‘ Alison Uttley Week ’ includes many children ’ s events – special story times , art and colouring competitions , displays , treasure hunts and a Little Grey Rabbit Birthday party picnic at Beaconsfield Library . Also , in partnership with the Beaconsfield Society , High March School is organising a special ‘ Little Grey Rabbit and her friends ’ art competition involving all the primary schools in Beaconsfield .
For adults , Professor Denis Judd , Alison ’ s biographer and editor of her diaries , will give a talk on her life and work at 2.30pm on Saturday 1st July , at the Fitzwilliams Centre . Tickets are available to our members (£ 8.00 ), guests and the general public (£ 10.00 ) and can be obtained from Beaconsfield Library : lib-bea @ buckscc . gov . uk or from the Beaconsfield Society : 01494 675923 / www . beaconsfieldsociety . org . uk
Please be sure to add the date to your diary !
Kari Dorme www . beaconsfieldsociety . org . uk
We are grateful for the generous assistance , and permission to use the images of : The Alison Uttley Society www . alisonuttley . co . uk The Margaret Tempest Estate www . margarettempest . co . uk Templar Publishing www . templarco . co . uk
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