A FORMER Malvern man has published a new novel set in the area during the 1920s.

Stanley Rouse has drawn on his memories of childhood in the town as the background to Nipped in the Bud, which he described as a "romantic tragedy".

The book focuses on the relationship between Mary, a nave young woman, and Jack, an older man. Their lives are changed by the relationship but so are the lives of all around them.

Mr Rouse, who celebrated his 73rd birthday on Monday, September 3, was born in Malvern and went to school at the North Malvern junior and senior schools, which have now closed.

It was a very different time then, recalls Mr Rouse.

"It was only the doctors and lawyers who had cars and most of the deliveries were by horse and cart," he said.

"Most boys got jobs as errand boys even before leaving school and the working man had very little protection; he could be fired just like that."

Mr Rouse himself went to work as a baker's assistant at Wilesmiths in Cowleigh Road, before doing National Service, in which he became a military policeman. This paved the way for a spell as a civilian bobby in Malvern, which lasted until he and his family emigrated to Canada in 1951.

Now he and his wife - also from Malvern - live in the Isle of Wight, but still maintain links with the town.

"I came back to research the book in Malvern Library, looking through old issues of the Malvern Gazette and the Malvern News to find out things like prices and remind myself of all the businesses that have gone, like Woodyatts."

Mr Rouse's second book, currently being edited, is set against a rather different background.

Entitled Charity At Home, it tells the story of two unemployed Canadian salesmen who start their own charity for something to do.

Nipped in the Bud is published in the United States and is available in the UK through www.amazon.co.uk.

A chapter from the book can be read online at www1.Xlibris. com.