Carmarthen writer’s post-war Berkshire book
Added: (Wed Oct 14 2020)
Pressbox (Press Release) -
A retired electrical engineer has penned a love-letter to the hard-but-happy childhood he enjoyed in post-war Berkshire.
Victor Allen grew up on a rural farm near Reading without electricity, hot running water or an indoor toilet.
But the 78-year-old father-of-four, who now lives in Wales, believes they were the happiest days of his life.
Victor’s memoirs, in the form of a collection of short stories, has just been published to critical acclaim.
The Boy is a welcome slice of nostalgia from a time of innocence, self-sufficiency and freedom to roam.
Victor, from Carmarthen, said: “The idea for The Boy was in my head for years and people who heard the stories that I told urged me to write a book - so eventually I did.
“In my childhood we lived without electricity or hot running water, and of course the toilet was down the garden.
“We ate good quality food, though, and most of the stuff came from the huge garden where dad grew fresh vegetables and fruit.
“Rabbits and pigeons were the staple diet.
“Although rough and very cold in winter, with only an open fire, we had everything we needed, with lots of love and a huge amount of laughter.
“These were probably the best times of my life.”
Victor was born in 1942 to Maud and Dave Allen at Island Farm in Ufton Nervet Berkshire. He, along with his two brothers, Ralph and Gerry, and sister Dora grew up in the farmhouse which belonged to their grandfather.
It was a childhood of hard work on the farm run by his uncle Ralph, as well as adventures and pranks on most of the neighbours.
In The Boy Victor recalls those tough winters and endless, warm summers through an anthology of humorous and uplifting short stories.
He added: “We grew up during the 1940s and early 50s and back then everyone seemed to work together in the village.
“We were free to roam as young boys – we could go wherever we wanted to.
“In The Boy, I recall many of the tricks we played on the local gentry, the gamekeeper, and, not forgetting, the police.”
Although English was one of Victor’s best subjects at the local school, he went on to become a qualified electrical engineer.
The title of his first book comes from the nickname he was given as a child by his farmer uncle.