Sunset, Swifts Hill, screen print by Andy Lovell, which will show in As I Walked Out One Midsummer Morning, an exhibition of art inspired by the writings of Laurie Lee, at the Sub Rooms, Stroud in June.


have come straight from the pages of a novel. His affair with Lorna


Wishart, the wife of publisher Ernest Wishart resulted in an illegitimate daughter, Yasmine. And when Lorna struck up


an affair with the artist Lucian Freud, Lee was heartbroken. But it was Lorna who was to


introduce him to her neice, Katherine Polge, the woman he would eventually marry and later become the mother of their daughter Jessy. At the time Laurie was 22


and Kathy was only five. Until his death a picture


hung in the bathroom of Laurie and Kathy’s Slad cottage of the child, Kathy sitting on his lap eating a sugared bun. When they married Laurie


was 36 and Kathy 18. Laurie Lee has always


maintained that it was at this moment Kathy decided to marry him ‘ a crumpled 22-year-old English stranger. ‘ In 1983 he wrote of this


moment in Two Women, a celebration of his wife and daughter. Laurie Lee is remembered in


the Slad Valley as a gregarious, fun person, often to be found drinking at his beloved


Woolpack pub. On his 99th birthday in 2013,


a nature reserve, Laurie Lee Wood, was opened by Jessy and Kathy ahead of his centenary celebrations this year. The beautiful ancient


woodland, next to Gloucestershire Wildlife’s Swifts Hill Nature Reserve, is spread over three hectars, is bursting with an abundance of native fauna and flora including many rare species. Today, due to the enduring


appeal of Laurie Lee’s work, the writer continues to draw visitors to the Slad Valley from all over the world. A commemorative stained


glass window was installed at Holy Trinity Church, Slad in 2011 to commemorate Laurie Lee who is buried in the churchyard. During the centenary year


there will be many events taking place both in Gloucestershire and nationally to celebrate the birth of Laurie Lee on June 26, 1914. Planned events include an


exhibition at Stroud Museum of previously unseen paintings and drawings by Laurie Lee as well as a series of poetry and music events.


Laurie’s daughter Jessy is


publishing her own book detailing periods of her father’s life.


There will also be a relaunch


of his classic books: Cider With Rosie; As I Walked Out One Midsummer Morning; A Moment of War;the trilogy, Red Sky at Sunrise;The First Born. People of all ages will have a


chance to discover or re-discover Laurie Lee’s writing, to explore the beautiful Cotswold landscapes which inspired him and to take part in activities which Laurie Lee’s works have in turn inspired. Look out for music, poetry,


exhibitions, walks and workshops.


The celebrations are


organised by local community groups and supported by Stroud Arts Festival, Stroud District Council and The Summerfield Charitable Trust. www.laurielee.org www.stroudartsfestival.org For your chance to win a


beautiful bound copy of Laurie Lee’s Cider With Rosie see page 56.


Laurie Lee enjoying a glass of cider in his beloved Slad Valley


A commemorative stained glass window in honour of Laurie Lee was installed at Holy Trinity Church in 2011. The author is buried in the churchyard there


Inspiring life in the Cotswolds 55


Page 1  |  Page 2  |  Page 3  |  Page 4  |  Page 5  |  Page 6  |  Page 7  |  Page 8  |  Page 9  |  Page 10  |  Page 11  |  Page 12  |  Page 13  |  Page 14  |  Page 15  |  Page 16  |  Page 17  |  Page 18  |  Page 19  |  Page 20  |  Page 21  |  Page 22  |  Page 23  |  Page 24  |  Page 25  |  Page 26  |  Page 27  |  Page 28  |  Page 29  |  Page 30  |  Page 31  |  Page 32  |  Page 33  |  Page 34  |  Page 35  |  Page 36  |  Page 37  |  Page 38  |  Page 39  |  Page 40  |  Page 41  |  Page 42  |  Page 43  |  Page 44  |  Page 45  |  Page 46  |  Page 47  |  Page 48  |  Page 49  |  Page 50  |  Page 51  |  Page 52  |  Page 53  |  Page 54  |  Page 55  |  Page 56  |  Page 57  |  Page 58  |  Page 59  |  Page 60  |  Page 61  |  Page 62  |  Page 63  |  Page 64  |  Page 65  |  Page 66  |  Page 67  |  Page 68  |  Page 69  |  Page 70  |  Page 71  |  Page 72  |  Page 73  |  Page 74  |  Page 75  |  Page 76  |  Page 77  |  Page 78  |  Page 79  |  Page 80  |  Page 81  |  Page 82  |  Page 83  |  Page 84  |  Page 85  |  Page 86  |  Page 87  |  Page 88