Bygone Days in Newcastle, County Down with author, Judy Grove-White.
Bryansford author, Judy Grove-White, has penned her second book titled ‘The Bus Stops at Burrendale Corner’. Her book is a look at the story of Newcastle, County Down, Northern Ireland from 1946 to 1952. In this latest podcast, Judy talks to Chris at length about her background and family. Her grandparents came to Burrendale in the late 1930s and settled in a house where the Burrendale Hotel is now situated. Her grandfather had been in India and had worked on the railways. Although originally from the Dungannon and Coalisland area, they decided to return to Ireland and settle in this beautiful part of County Down.
Judy talks about her grandfather's diaries, and how she used extracts from them as a backdrop to her books. He had been a keen gardener and recorded details including the weather, damage caused by the rabbits, catching brown trout at Maghera and his observations from his walks to and from Newcastle.
Judy's first book, called ‘Newcastle Co Down 1939 – 1945 Snapshots from a Family Diary’, related the story of the town from 1939 to 1945 and was based on both her grandfather's diary and local newspapers. Her latest book looks at the post war era in the vicinity. Life was changing for local people, including a shortage of fuel, housing expansion, and the beginning of the National Health Service. The book ends with the marriage of Judy's parents in 1952.
Judy also talks to Chris about her time in the library service and what resources it offers to members of the public who are interested in researching local history.
"One of the reasons why I am doing these books is to preserve some of that history - local people's history, " said Judy.
The latest book ,‘The Bus Stops at Burrendale Corner’ is available to purchase on Amazon.co.uk in paperback and e-book format.
https://www.amazon.co.uk/Judy-Grove-White/e/B0BNF1DBRZ?ref=sr_ntt_srch_lnk_1&qid=1672695739&sr=8-1