Villagers' memories published in new book

Villagers' memories of community life stretching back nearly 100 years has been published in a new book.

Village Voices, which was launched at the Peason Hall on Saturday, is a collection of memories taken from recordings with villagers between 2006 and 2009.

They were originally recorded for the Village Voices exhibition at the Pearson Hall in 2009.

Sonning and Sonning Eye Society members Annabella Marks, Judy Baldwin, Lesley Green and Mary Chapman have spent hours transcribing the recordings and editing the book for its launch.

The aim of the book is to portray villagers lives and convey their sense of community. It includes recollections of Second World War events, and of a time when Sonning was a bustling commercial centre.

The book is centred around 10 themes; homes businesses, rural life, schools, community, events, wartime, the fire brigade, the Mill and the river. It also includes many of the images and photographs used in the exhibition.

Annabella, a retired medical consultant for the Duchess of Kent House, said creating the book had been a 'labour of love.'

"It's been a magnificent team effort," she said. "I think it is a wonderful, humorous, profound and fascinating book that will make a wonderful Christmas present."

The oral history exhibition, staged by the Sonning and Sonning Eye Society, was held at Pearson Hall in September 2009. It was opened by MP Theresa May before moving to the Museum of English Rural Life in Reading (MERL).

Copies of the book are available from Pauline Simmonds, Robins, Thames Street Sonning RG4 6UR. It costs £9.50, plus postage and packaging.

Call 01189 697033 for details.