George Ewart Evans lived in Blaxhall between 1948 and 1956 when his wife Florence was headmistress at Blaxhall school. It was here that he wrote 'Ask the Fellows who Cut the Hay' the book for which he is best remembered.
There is a blue plaque on his birthplace in Abercynon, and another in Needham Market, where the family moved to from Blaxhall. Now we want to erect one here in Blaxhall where he wrote the first of 12 books about how life was changing in rural Suffolk. He interviewed many village people, and some still remember him working here
With your help, we'll erect a blue plaque on Blaxhall village hall, so that every visitor is reminded of our connection with this well known author.
If we reach our target, we will order the plaque and unveil the plaque on Sunday 7th April, followed by a screening of A Writer's Suffolk, the 1980 film that was written and narrated by Evans, and Here's a Health to the Barley Mow which was filmed in Blaxhall in 1955.
To complete the afternoon, local author Robert Ashton will talk about his book Where are the Fellows who Cut the Hay in which he builds on those written by Evans. Robert worked for a while at Lime Tree Farm, Blaxhall and now lives at Leiston. You will be able to buy a copy of Robert's book on the day.
He's agreed to give half of the of what he takes on the day to our church tower appeal and any money we have over after paying for the day will also go towards the church tower.