In ‘ Proper Cornish Childhood’ the author has written the story of one year in his life, 1966/67, the year in which he was to leave his much loved Junior School, where he had been very happy, for Senior School.  A time that could be said to mark the moment when a child starts out on adult life. This book tells the story of the everyday events in his last year at Junior School.  Growing up in Newlyn there were visits to the beach, shopping trips to Penzance, ‘treats’ such as a visit to the Corpus Christi fair held annually in May, and to the Savoy cinema.  An event of international importance to touch his life was the wrecking of the tanker ‘Torrey Cannon’ in March 1967. Eventually he was present when the tanker was blown up causing devastation on Cornish beaches for years to come.  But for the most part this is the story of every day life, as the author says – a proper Cornish childhood.

‘Proper Cornish Childhood’ by Michael Darracott  ISBN 978-1-906645-41-0
is published by Grosvenor House Publishing Ltd at  £8.95. It is a soft back edition with colour cover but not otherwise illustrated and contains 112 pages. The book is obtainable from bookshops or direct from the author through his website www.mikedarracott.com