Fire and the Phoenix
When the burning pyres of a foot and mouth epidemic hit the West Devon farm of Moorview Barton, home to the Dawson family for 150 years, there follow some traumatic times; first for Jack and Sarah, then their son and daughter-in-law, Mark and Moira.
They meet difficulties running the farm against an austere financial climate, with BSE and foot and mouth having taken their toll on the farming community. Then there is also family tragedy and turmoil, and the continuing problem of inheritance and how to gain complete ownership over the 300 acres.
Just as Mark and Moira begin to feel settled and in control of their destiny, once again the tragedy of foot and mouth returns, due specifically to the selfish exploits of one particular cattle trader.
Against this background, can the Dawson family have the courage and vision to rise, once again, from the literal ashes left from the disaster to the phoenix of success and security?
ISBN: 9781852001127
Size: 217x140mm
Binding: hardback
Length: 248pp
About the author:
Ted Sherrell
Born and educated in West Devon, Ted Sherrell has had an interesting and most diverse working career; past work including being a civil servant, newspaper reporter, fireman, factory worker, door-to-door salesman, insurance agent, shopkeeper, proofreader and as a business adviser calling principally on farms in Devon and Cornwall.
A farmer’s son, he has worked amongst and been around the farming and rural communities of Devonshire for most of his life. He draws greatly upon this background – plus his various working experiences – when writing his novels and short stories.
In past years he gained an Honours Degree in History through a correspondence course and, as well as his writing career, Ted Sherrell was for many years involved in local government as a member of Tavistock Town Council, where in 2013 he was made the first ever Freeman of Tavistock. He has also been a member of West Devon Borough Council and is a Justice of the Peace.
