A WORLD of hell and haven has been evoked by a Moultoner who has chronicled life in his village during an iconic era.

David Yearsley grew up in Moulton in the 1960s and has written the book ‘Winding the Clock Back’ under the pen name Dave Kenneth to take readers back to life in ‘Little Hell’ in that decade.

“I thought it would be lost for all time if I didn’t write it when I wrote it,” he said.

“Something inside me said ‘try to get it down while you’re compos mentis and your memory is sound’.

“It has taxed me and I was glad when I got to the end but the journey itself has been as satisfying and rewarding as the end book.

“It’s taken me back to funny moments and sad moments and has been a time to reflect on the life you had and how different it was in the ‘60s.”

David grew up in a house off Niddries Lane, now in Park Lane, where his mum still lives.

‘Winding the Clock Back’ includes a host of tales, from japes at bonfire night and failing the 11 plus examination to troubles with the nit nurse and some memorable village characters.

David said: “Moulton now is a highly desirable residential area but it wasn’t like that in the 1950s and ‘60s.

“It was called ‘Little Hell’ because it had such a reputation for being unwelcome to strangers with one road in and no roads out.

“It was a very tight-knit community where everyone stuck up for one another, that’s another reason why they didn’t like strangers and they soon had you weighed up.

“There were so many real characters, they were so funny – it was a wonderful community.

“You wouldn’t recognise it now with parts of it built on that I grew up with.

“You had the equivalent of Springwatch all there, round the clock for free.

“It was a haven to grow up in.”

The book has been illustrated by cartoonist Bill Tidy, who has drawn for Private Eye and the Daily Mirror, among others.

It is currently only available as a Kindle edition online. For more information search for Dave Kenneth on Amazon.