A perfect village childhood

For Clitheroe woman Anne Musson, the inspiration to write about her early life in the sleepy village of Downham came from the death of her mother Edith Watson, aged 97, in 1999.

Now her book My Beloved Downham - A Childhood Memory has become one of the most sought-after reads among villagers and Ribble Valley residents alike, with its tales "half in Lancashire, half in Fairyland" and a lifetime collection of rare photographs of the village and its children.

It chronicles her life at home, school and play during the 1940s before going off to study at Ribblesdale High School in Clitheroe for a year, She then moved to the Convent of the Holy Family in Littlehampton, Sussex, in 1951.

Anne said: "After mum died, I began to reflect on our wonderful upbringing and how special it all was and gradually, as I had more time, I started to jot down thoughts and began to write this little story.

"At that stage I had no thoughts about producing a book but, rather like Topsy, 'it just grew'."

She added: "Memories, particularly those trawled from over 50 years ago, do play tricks. For those who have read this story, it must be apparent that my memories are of the very happy times we young souls experienced together during the 1940s.

"War or no war, we were sheltered from the grim realities of that period by the village itself and everything it stood for. Downham was all that mattered to us. It was a precious time and whenever friends and I meet now, it is not long before someone will remember the happy days and reminiscences will flow."

The life and times of Anne Musson began on August 4, 1939, at Springfield Maternity Hospital in Blackburn, the youngest of four daughters to Edith and Tom Watson.

And an inkling into her life's achievements was highlighted at just a few days old.

Anne writes: "Edith was rather apprehensive at the thoughts of starting over again with a young life but Uncle Ben Holden, my mother's brother from Chatburn, reassured her by saying: 'Tha wants nowt worrying, Edith. That one will be a blessing to you'."

Anne recalls her memories of, at the age of four, moving with her parents and sisters Mary, Joan and Barbara, from Well Cottage, originally part of the Manor House, to Chestnut Cottage, where her mother lived until several years before her death. She remembers her mother's best china on the fireplace, baths taken in front of a cosy warm fire before the bathroom was fitted and the smell of her dad's cigar smoke.

"These memories transport me to Christmases from times past when all the family was at home and we delighted in the magic of Mum's wonderful cooking. What more could we wish?"

Anne's first memory of her father was aged six when he returned from the war and she recalls a man walking down the brow in uniform. The pair soon became close and her father made a sledge for her, which she still has 61 years on. It was put to the test once again with grandson Harry, eight, last winter. The book also includes accounts of her birthdays -- which she shared with the Queen Mother -- and village life.

Her schooldays began in 1943 at St Leonard's School, a stone's throw from home.

She writes: "The only recollection I have of my first teacher Miss Porter was on Friday afternoons when we listened to a huge radiogram. Just before hometime she would ask me to collect her teacakes from the village shop and, of course, I loved doing this.

"Mrs Dawson continued to teach us until we were old enough to become the top infants and made learning how to do the shopping seem fun because she set up a toy shop. We all had to bring empty custard tins and packets which she'd display and price them. Then we were given magic cardboard money to buy whatever we could without allotted 'change'."

Mrs Dawson is also remembered for producing the scenery for school pantos and is still alive, aged 92, and living at Lawfield Nursing Home in Clitheroe.

Anne also recalls seasons in the village, where "the pace was steady and unchanging in a very predictable strong and solid way. From our blessed beginning of our young lives we were able to grow in stature, always feeling totally grounded. We were bathed in beauty."

Springtime memories included bluebell picking, and a brand new pair of petal design Clarks sandals, complete with new white socks and summer dresses at Easter time -- even if it was snowing.

"We knew summer wasn't far off and we were prepared to brave the elements and happy to be able to dispense with our heavy winter garb.

"Going without scarves and woollen knee socks was vastly liberating."

Summer brought games and making hay and an unfortunate experience on a horse.

"She (the horse) raced up the brow and stopped at the corner past the church with me still hanging on in the saddle, but thoroughly shaken. The kids sitting on the bridge thought it was hilarious. Needless to say I haven't been on a horse since. Character building?"

The book also features a chapter on St Leonard's Church, where she married husband Eric in 1961, and Downham Hall, the present family home of Lord and Lady Clitheroe.

And Lord Clitheroe, whose father was a childhood friend of Anne's mother, provides the foreword for the book, describing childhood memories as "powerful stuff".

Since leaving school Anne enjoyed many years on the amateur dramatics scene and bringing up her three sons Michael, Christopher and David. Once the boys had gone off to university she took up the challenge of running the garden at St Mary's Parish Church in Clitheroe and was praised for her dedication by the vicar, Canon Philip Dearden when she retired last year.

Now the book is complete, Anne says she is astounded at the response it has received, selling over 100 copies, and has received many letters from people whose own memories have been triggered from reading it.

She enjoys cycling, drawing, crosswords and being just "Granny" to Harry, eight and Annabel, three.

But, says Anne, she could not have done it without her friend and editor Margaret Smith.

She said: "She has been my guide and mentor throughout all this, and was able to get inside my head and fine tune what I had written without altering my text. What a gift.

"Margaret's gentle encouragement and enormous backing enabled me to carry on. Without her we would not have a book. I am so grateful to her it has been an amazing new experience, which I have thoroughly enjoyed."

"My Beloved Downham - A Childhood Memory" is on sale at Clitheroe Library and from Valerie Hall on 01200 441363 or Anne on 01200 425681, priced £7.50, plus £1.50 postage.