16th September : Where are the Fellows who cut the hay?

Robert Ashtons connection with the work of oral historian George Ewart Evans stretches back to his childhood, but it was only in his mid-60s that he finally began to walk in Evan's footsteps, researching and writing a book that explores how life in rural Suffolk has evolved over the 70 years since Evans wrote Ask the Fellows Who Cut the Hay.

In what he hopes will be more of a conversation with the audience, than a lecture, Robert will take us on a journey from Blaxhall to Needham Market and back again via Helmingham, meeting along the way people whose stories Evans collected and introducing some of the people he met, who are bringing back almost forgotten ways as we all adapt to the threat of climate change.

George Evart Evans described those he interviewed as 'living books', recognising that ordinary people often have extraordinary stories to tell, if you make time to listen. This focus set Evans apart from other East Anglian rural writers such as Adrian Bell, Ronald Blythe and H Rider Haggard, and Robert will explain how he feels each made a valuable, but very different contribution to recording our social history.

This will be an in-person only event, because as Robert said 'you cannot have a conversation with a row of faces on a computer screen. It takes place at the Fromus Centre, Street Farm Road, Saxmundham IP17 1AL (behind the library). starting at 2.30pm. Just turn up no need to book - £1.00 for members, £3.00 for visitors, including tea/coffee/biscuits. Robert will also be signing copies of his book after the talk.