Alison Uttley. Spinner of Tales. £14.99 Manchester University Press 978-0-7190-8456-0

It is good, at last, to see some attention being given to the gifted and prolific Derbyshire writer, Alison Uttley For too long, when she has been thought of at all, it is only as 'author of the Little Grey Rabbit stories'. In fact these are but a small fragment of her output, which included 100 other stories for children. 14 books of essays for adults, 3 autobiographical works, a County Guide to Buckinghamshire, a historical novel, and much more.

Now, with the reappearance of Denis Judd's excellent biography. the full range of Uttley's work is recorded and readers have the opportunity to watch her development as a writer from the clever, sensitive and observant child who was so influenced by her life at Castle Top Farm, to the hard-headed, determined and self-centred woman who produced superb prose with seeming ease. In fact she often worked painstakingly over her manuscripts. rewnting and rearranging. particularly in early days. For example 'A Traveller in Time, arguably her finest work, demanded a great deal of effort.

Based on a study of almost 40 years of diaries, now kept in the John Rylands Library at Manchester. Professor Judd's portrait of Alison Utley is comprehensive and balanced. The edited selection from these diaries which was published last year (The Private Diaries of Alison Uttley Edited by Denis Judd. £25. Pen and Sword Books Ltd) left the reader with an impression of a rude, mean, jealous, bigoted and often unhappy woman whose sole attraction was her love of nature. The biography, which first came out as a hardback in 1986 and a paperback in 2001, is far kinder. Although the sometimes difficult relationship with her husband, James Uttley, and his family is covered, and the strange too-close behaviour with her son, John, is discussed, the pleasanter side to Uttiey's complex character is also shown.

She enjoyed a close friendship with the poet Walter de la Mare. kept a number of other friends with whom she managed not to fall out, and was even, occasionally, known to say a kind word about John's wife. Helen. Although she squabbled constantly with Margaret Tempest, the well-known illustrator of the Little Grey Rabbit books, her relationship with Charles Tunniciliffe whose brilliant artwork appears in most of her books for adults, was always friendly and appreciative. More importantly, the biography emphasizes her intense feeling for nature and life in the countryside.

While most of Uttley's work was done during the 38 years spent in Beaconsfield, it was the first 19 years of life on the Cromford farm to which she returned repeatedly for inspiration. For many years, only a tiny selection of the essays, the first book of the autobiographical works, and the historical novel have been available. Recently a beautifully produced book of her "Old Farmhouse Recipes" (£19.99 Pen and Sword Books Ltd.) has been reissued and now there are whispers of more revivals to come of her writings for adults Look out for these lost gems: they will be well worth your evaluation.

E.J.Varty

Alison Uttley and Florence Nightingale; two strong women with local Derbyshire connections

On 30 October Denis Judd gave a talk at Cromford on Alison Uttley and Florence Nightingale; two strong women with local Derbyshire connections. This was part of the very varied World Heritage Sites Discovery Days programme in the Derwent Valley, and marked the centenary of Florence Nightingale's death. Simon Groom's BBC TV short profile of Alison Uttley was then shown. After the interval Joyce Varty read entertainingly from Alison's writing about Cromford, and Pete Castle sang some appropriate folk songs. A very successful evening ended with the auctioning of the first editions of some of Mrs. Uttley's books.

Alison Uttley Event at the Buxton Festival, Derbyshire 9 July 2010

Professor Denis Judd gave a talk on the subject of how a (nearly) local girl, Alison Uttley, became a best selling and world famous author to an enthralled and responsive full-house audience at the prestigious Buxton Festival. He explained that a key to understanding Alison's immensely creative but rather dominating spirit was her belief that: 'I always felt I was a changeling child. A bit of fairy got into me at Castle Top [Farm]'.

Frequently referring to the 2009 published Private Diaries of Uttley Diaries, as well as his to his very recently republished authorised biography, Alison Uttley: Spinner of Tales (Manchester University Press paperback, 2010) Denis gave a wide-ranging, frank but often amusing account of Mrs. Uttley's work as a prodigiously productive author and analysed her often troubled, but intensely lived, personal life.

After the talk, a short BBC TV film profile of Mrs. Uttley, made by Simon Groom of Manor Farm, Dethick, the place that inspired Alison's classic novel A Traveller in Time, was shown.

This was followed by a lively general discussion, in which many interesting and challenging points were made. But, as always, the meeting ran out of time all too fast.

Some pictures from the event are shown below.

The launch party for Recipes from a Country Farmhouse

May 26th 2010 was the day of the Ashburne Hall reunion when Professor Denis Judd, as guest of honour, gave an amusing talk on Alison Uttley, creative genius and compulsive housewife. We heard how in the early days of her widowhood, Alison struggled with money and worried over the purchase of a bag of oranges or a bunch of flowers, with only two shillings left to cover a week-end. By the late 1930's, Alison was a successful writer. When not feverishly preparing gargantuan feasts for friends, Alison would be making marmalade or bottling, then bemoaning the fact "no writing today" in her diaries. Later in life, a visitor commented on "her heroically untidy kitchen"; all her adult life, Alison found it hard to cope with her numerous domestic helps and often struggled alone.

The cookery book was based on notebooks inherited from Alison's mother, plus her own additions. It builds on a childhood where food was plentiful and home produced at Castle Top Farm, in Derbyshire. The modern publisher adds notes of warning: some of these country ingredients, such as laudanum for cough mixtures and salt petre for curing hams, are today considered dangerous. We can thoroughly recommend this new edition, an uplifting peep into 19th century Derbyshire, with some lovely illustrations.

Uttley Diaries Event at the Sedbergh Book Festival, 22 September 2009

Denis Judd spoke about the private diaries of Alison Uttley at the Sedbergh Book Festival on 22 September. It was to Sedbergh School, of course, that Alison's son John was sent for his secondary education, thus following his father James to this well regarded and beautifully situated school on the borders of Yorkshire and Cumbria.

The event was well attended, and there was a lively discussion of Alison Uttley's work, as well as her personality after Professor Judd had given his talk and shown the brief BBC TV profile of Alison made by Simon Groom earlier this year.

The Headmaster. and some of the current and former staff of Sedbergh were in the audience. Interestingly, one of these had worked with John Uttley when he was a House Master at Stowe School during the 1950s. He remembered the rather troubled young teacher well, but also recalled that he regularly stood in for John on Wednesday evenings so that the latter could go and spend some welcome time with his wife, Helen Uttley. John was, he said, extremely reticent sbout his family background, and the tragedy of James Uttley's suicide in 1930 was never mentioned.

Uttley Diaries Event at Manchester University, 13 October 2009

On 13 October 2009 alumni were treated to a fascinating talk by acclaimed biographer Professor Denis Judd, on the subject of renowned children's author and Manchester graduate, Alison Uttley, whilst enjoying afternoon tea in the charming Christie Bistro at the University.

Professor Judd, who is Professor Emeritus of British Imperial and Commonwealth History at London Metropolitan University, had previously written Alison's authorised biography and has now published her edited diaries in order to mark the 125th year of her birth.

Some of the revelations uncovered by Professor Judd included; Alison's fascination with time-travel, dreams and magic, her estranged relationship with Margaret Tempest (the illustrator of most of the Little Grey Rabbit books), her bitter resentment of the success of her Beaconsfield neighbour Enid Blyton, and of Beatrix Potter, with whom she resented comparisons. Then there were difficulties of her family relationships, especially with her husband James, who killed himself in 1939, and also her over-close relationship with her son, John, who was eventually to commit suicide in 1978.

Professor Judd also portrayed Alison's extraordinary talent as a writer of beautiful English, and her sentimental but also sharp-eyed relationship with the old-fashioned, rural England of her birth in the Derbyshire countryside, which she continually celebrated in her literature and which is powerfully recalled in her Diaries.

Following Professor Judd's presentation alumni heard readings from the diaries delivered by Sheila Griffiths and Sylvia Crummett who both work at Ashburne Hall (where Alison was based during her time at Manchester). There was then a lively and often amusing general discussion between the audience and Denis Judd.

Information courtesy of the University of Manchester

Uttley Diaries Event at the Gothic Warehouse, Cromford, 31 October 2009

Professor Denis Judd gave a talk on the subject of how local girl, Alison Uttley, became a best selling and world famous author to an enthusiastic full house at the Gothic Warehouse, Cromford. He explained that a key to understanding Alison's immensely creative but rather dominating spirit was her belief that: 'I always felt I was a changeling child. A bit of fairy got into me at Castle Top [Farm]'. Using the newly published Uttley Diaries as evidence, he gave a wide-ranging but penetrating account of Mrs. Uttley's work as an author and of her often troubled personal life.

After the talk, Simon Groom of Manor Farm, Dethick, the place that inspired Alison's classic novel A Traveller in Time, introduced his short BBC TV film profile of Mrs. Uttley (shown in the Spring) and explained how he planned to make a full-length television version of her remarkable life.

This was followed by some fascinating readings, by Joyce Varty, from some of Alison Uttley's many books, as well as from the Diaries, all on the subject of Cromford.

A general discussion followed, in which many interesting points were made. But, as always, the meeting ran out of time too fast.

Mrs Clay of Castle Top

On 2nd August 1958 Alison Uttley wrote in her diary 'A 20 page letter from Mrs Clay, Harry went to Castle Top but never told me. She tells me such interesting things, and she loves the place.' They were to correspond for many years, on at least one occasion Mrs Clay sending snowdrops to Mrs Uttley from the orchard at Castle Top. It must have been a real comfort to Mrs Uttley that the house was cared for once more after the years of neglect.

Castle Top, on the hillside overlooking Cromford, was lived in and looked after by Mr and Mrs Clay from the early 1950's when they bought it and moved up from Cromford. I first met Mrs Clay, an avid reader, when she used to come in to Scarthin Books in Cromford, where I lived at the time. To celebrate the centenary of Alison Uttley's birth, we planted an oak tree to replace the one described in The Country Child, and Mr and Mrs Clay very kindly hosted a memorable open day. This was described by Mrs Clay with humour as their 'moment of glory' as it had prompted Mr Clay to finish off all sorts of odd jobs!

No doubt Mrs Uttley would have described Mrs Clay as a 'true countrywoman': at one time she kept a pony, dog, cats and chickens, enjoyed baking for her children and grandchildren, watched in particular the birds and badgers, and interested herself in animal charities and country issues. She would walk through the woods to Cromford to take her son John to School in Cromford. Many Alison Uttley enthusiasts were given a tour of the house, coming from as far away as Japan.

I started to visit Mrs Clay in the latter part of her life when she was confined to her home. Always ready to patiently answer my questions, I learnt which door the Irishmen took down for their clog dancing, that the kitchen window had once been a door, and the location of the tennis court, and much more.

Even when Mrs Clay became very frail, she always had a book on her lap, and would take some time outdoors even in winter. The first flower on the hellebore or the progress of the new climbing rose were always of interest to her. I was struck by the fact that she was always interested in the world outside and would always enquire about my job and my family.

It is thanks to Mrs Clay that many of the original features of Castle Top described so vividly by Alison Uttley and illustrated by Tunnicliffe survive today: the trees, the wooden shutters, sandstone benches in the dairy, troughs for cooling the milk and the layout of garden, pigsty and orchard. She was a true guardian of this lovely spot and I was fortunate to know her.

Mrs Clay died peacefully in her home on 9th August 2009 and leaves three sons,5 grandchildren and 4 great grandchildren.

Enthusiastic Meeting at Shottlegate WI, Derbyshire, 9 June

Denis Judd spoke to a full house of some 80 WI members on 9 June, arranged by Betty Cowan and Catherine Raynard. The first half of the evening included a talk by Denis on Alison Uttley's standing and qualities as a prolific and popular writer, and looked in particular at her recently published Diaries. Simon Groom then introduced the short film he made for BBC TV, entitled Alison Uttley; Spinner of Tales. After the break for refreshments, Denis explained the background to the recent republication of Old Farmhouse Recipes, which was followed by a very lively, interesting and sometimes amusing discussion, At the venue, the Hazlewood Memorial Hall, there was also a beautiful display of some of Alison's delicious recipes cooked by members and arranged among copies of some of Mrs. Uttley's best known books. The next day Denis Judd was interviewed on BBC Radio Derby, where the morning programme centred on the Recipes book, but also invited listeners to talk about their favourite old recipes.

Some pictures from the event are shown below.