Book is crowning glory of recovery

A former journalist, who has spent seven years researching the village where he lives, has written a book based on his findings.

Mr Trevor Frecknall (64) of Main Street, North Muskham, came up with the idea for his book, Coronation Village, after talking to older residents while recovering from major heart surgery after two heart attacks.

He said: “I set about trying to find out a little about the interesting characters from when I was growing up in the village.

“The more I delved, the more fascinated I became.”

Mr Frecknall, a former sports editor for the Nottingham Evening Post, was born in Bathley but has lived in North Muskham most of his life.

The book focuses around the Queen’s coronation on June 2, 1953. Each chapter tells a story about the people who lived in every home in the village around that time.

The cover features an old photograph of youngsters from North Muskham in their finest clothes shortly before a coronation tea.

He said: “The people who lived around here in the 1950s were amazing. They were very resilient. We used to get flooded every year before the gravel paths were dug out.”

Mr Frecknall said the book had been a labour of love.

It will be launched tomorrow at the North Muskham Riverside Festival, which takes place from 11.30am-5pm.

The book, which costs £10.95, has been published by History Into Print and 500 copies have been printed.