Rachel Larkinson from Sutton Bridge has written a book Cousins, Classmates And A Dog Called Rover

A woman who grew up in Sutton Bridge and attended Spalding High School has written a children’s book.

Rachel Larkinson (76) has penned a story called Cousins, Classmates and a Dog called Rover which has been published by Austin Macauley Publishers.

Although it is not autobiographical, it is based on memories of her childhood growing up in the Fens and centres around Susan, aged 10, the book’s heroine, and is set in 1956.

The book was inspired from conversations with her granddaughter during the pandemic who asked about what life was like, and the differences, in her own childhood.

Mrs Larkinson, who is married with three grown-up children and two grandchildren, said: “I wrote a chapter at a time for my granddaughter during lockdown.

“I didn’t always intend to publish it but it was a way to keep in touch with the grandchildren and personal contact with the one who was 10 at the time who loves reading.

“She said it was brilliant, she liked it.”

Originally called Susan’s Story, the plot involves the young protagonist on the first day of her summer holidays with six weeks of doing exactly what she wants stretching out in front of her.

However when cousins unexpectedly come to stay, as their mother has died, it brings changes to her life.

The book is aimed at young teenagers and helps to bridge the gap between grandparents and their younger relatives.

Mrs Larkinson said: “I heard Michael Morpurgo talking on the radio of how important it is that grandparents and grandchildren do things together.

“I was interested when he said this and the need in creating a link between the older and younger generations. “

The author was born in 1946 and lived in Railway Lane in Sutton Bridge and remembers being taught Latin and Greek by Mr Churchill at Spalding High Schol.

At the age of 18 she left home and went to Oxford to read classics at St Anne’s college.

Her parents moved to Fakenham and she has family in King’s Lynn, Lincolnshire, Norfolk and East Anglia and now lives in Abbotts Ann, Andover Hampshire.

The author has visited Sutton Bridge to see her old house and thinks she may still recognise people in the area.

She said: “I always like coming back as it feels like home.

“I worked in the Wisbech area so it may be that people local would remember me.”

Following a career teaching abroad in Sierra Leone she became a Methodist minister.

She said: "I always liked writing but never had time and the pandemic allowed the time.

“The book is lighthearted and illustrated with cartoon characters by the publishing company.

“It is not a really long book and features things I remember about growing up in the Fens, such as when the dykes filled up with water and we would jump across them.

“Other aspects of the book are my own imaginings.”

Visit www.rachellarkinson.ampbk.com for further details