AUTHOR Elaine Bamford has revisited her childhood for a new book about Tiptree life.

Tiptree, Still a Village is packed with memories and stories and was recently launched outside Don Tyler and Son Opticians, in Church Road.

It has been self-published by Mrs Bamford (pictured below), includes lots of childhood tales and is her second book, following Tiptree, One Day a City?

She was brought up in the village and was head girl and deputy head girl at Tiptree Church and Tiptree Secondary Modern Schools respectively.

Mrs Bamford said: "I'm very excited about this book.

"It follows on from my first one, which was self-published over 20 years ago, and covers Tiptree memories from the Second World War to the 1970s.

"This one is a lot longer and is over 200 pages.

"It's taken a while to bring everything together but I'm happy with the end product and the feedback has been very positive so far. It's been well-received.

"It covers everything from businesses that have been and gone to schools, housing, entertainment and the village's connection with strawberries.

"It covers everything you can possibly think of and there are separate chapters on certain things.

"It's very comprehensive and I did it for the people of Tiptree."

Harwich and Manningtree Standard:

Mrs Bamford has a long and proud connection with the village, having grown up there before moving away in the 1970s.

She returned to retire in the area, buying a house in Tollesbury.

"Initially I worked in Colchester and then travelled abroad before eventually settling and raising my family in Hertfordshire," she said.

"It was always my intention to return to Essex but family health problems brought me and my three children back in the 1990s.

"I needed to be nearer to my parents and that's when my interest in local history took hold."

Harwich and Manningtree Standard:

Mrs Bamford published Tiptree, One Day a City? in 1996.

Then, in 2015, she assisted Tiptree resident Derek Pennick in compiling his memories of living and working in the village and his book, A Penny a Pound, was self-published in 2016.

Tiptree, Still a Village costs £12 but all three of the books she has been involved in can be bought for £20.

It is available at Don Tyler and Son Opticians and Strawberry Locks hairdressers, in Church Road.

All three books will also be available from Staines in Church Road.

Alternatively, contact Mrs Bamford via the Tiptree and District Facebook page.