VALE OF Evesham farmer turned author Fred Archer was on the point of finishing another book when he died in September 1999.

Hay Days, Memories of Country Life in the 1920s has now been published by Sutton Publishing Ltd at £14.99. It is the last in a line of over 20 books by the author, many of them recreating the tenor and character of farming life during the first half of the 20th century. Fred wrote his first book in 1967.

The last words in Hays Days were penned by his wife Elsie who said: "It was at this point that the Historian himself passed into history, undoubtedly taking with him many more memories of the characters and events that had been handed down as tales of the past."

She explained: "When Fred Archer decided to write this book he felt that if he didn't do it then he might forget what he wanted to say, or possibly it might be too late. He wished for the way of life in the 1920s to be remembered, and explained to the folk who were not born then and could learn something of the way life was at that time."

It was a tough life when men, and women, worked hard at manual labour and the rewards were not great, except perhaps for the satisfaction of knowing a job was well done.

Fred learned his stories from the people he met and worked with, or from folklore. His interest in people and their experiences was intense right to the end of his life. Even a few moments before he died suddenly in hospital he was chatting and exchanging stories with the man in the next bed.

"That thought," said Elsie, "is a great comfort to the loved ones he left behind."

Although Fred left his beloved Bredon Hill - he lived at Ashton-under-Hill - to live nearer the sea, he still returned "home" regularly to see his family, friends and associates of bygone years. To listen to them as they reminisced was an education in itself.

The modern ways with "up to date" technology did not find favour with Fred. He could see so much deterioration of the land with heavy tractors and combine harvesters compacting the soil and damaging its drainage abilities, as well as destroying the fine tilth that years of horse-drawn ploughing had created. He often remarked that in the days of the horses, work could always be done, while in modern times heavy machinery is often unable to cope in difficult conditions.

In the last few years Fred longed to return to his native land and eventually it was possible for him to do so. He was happy to be back - at Charlton - and meet some of the folk he used to know. It was sad that it was only eight months before his death.

Hays Days itself recalls some of the characters Fred knew as a boy, including Fred Chandler, the cowman who sang to his herd, Walt, one of the last ploughmen, and Sam, who ploughed much of his land by hand. There are many pictures from the archives as well as modern ones. It is just a shame that, for the sake of posterity, there are no names in the later pictures.