Bombs over Rudyard and other memories of a WWII childhood
Reg makes debut as an author as memoir is published to coincide with his 92nd birthday
DEBUT author Reg Heath has a hit on his hands – at the age of 92.
Reg’s original manuscript was entirely handwritten, and later transcribed by family members.
It was passed to his niece, Jean Simcock, who helped get it published as A Wartime Childhood in Horton & Rudyard, to commemorate Reg’s 92nd birthday.
The project was completed by Juliette Lloyd, a local literary editor.
Last month, family and friends gathered in the church hall at Rudyard for Reg’s first book signing. The day was a huge success, with dozens of copies of the book sold and many more on order.
Reg described the experience of being a published author at 92 as “a bit weird” and when asked about his good health and sharpness, he quipped: “It’s all about clean living. Avoid it at all costs!”
Reg, right, was born into a farming family in Horton in 1932, and was a young schoolboy as the country braced for the impact of the Second World War.
Published by New Generation Publishing, A Wartime Childhood in Horton & Rudyard is a treasure-trove of Reg’s childhood reminiscences, poetry, sketches, and photographs.
It is a celebration of how the Horton, Rudyard, and Leek community came together to boost wartime morale, maintain some semblance of normality for the children, and survive one of the harshest winters on record.
Readers will be delighted to see familiar names, places, and traditions depicted in the memoir. Many will be surprised to learn about the impact that war had locally, with air raid precautions, highexplosive bombs dropped around Rudyard, and the stationing of GIS. It offers a fascinating insight into a way of life that is in danger of being forgotten, and even features the family connection to Rudyard Kipling.
“I’ve learned so much about our local history through Reg’s writing,” said editor Juliette.
“I assumed that the war didn’t impact rural Staffordshire directly, so it was a surprise to read about the local bombings.
“It has been a huge privilege to work on Reg’s project and get these important memories into permanent record.”
Reg is immensely proud of his achievement, which is now part of the national historical archives with a copy held at the British Library.
His effort will help to ensure that details about the domestic impact of war, and the wartime way of life, are secure for future generations.