Everyone has a novel in them, they say, but retired farmer Dorothy Jones, from Nursteed, Devizes, is one of the few to commit her memories to paper.

Writing under her maiden name, Dorothy Keene, she uses many family photographs to illustrate her fascinating and at times dramatic life in the self-published book. She said: “I have worked all my life so when I retired I couldn’t just sit and do nothing.”

Ms Keene has been involved in farming all her life, being brought up at Gosden Hill Farm near Guildford, Surrey.

In the book, which is entitled 1934 - ?, she paints warm portraits of her parents, Cyril and Evelyn. Mr Keene originally hailed from Cricklade and Ms Keene was to return to Wiltshire at many times during her life, eventually coming to live in Devizes to be close to her daughter, Patricia Salter, a former Wiltshire police officer.

There are some delightful photos. Not least of these is one from 1943 when two white heifer calves were born on the farm and Ms Keene’s mother wanted to use them to raise money for the Red Cross, her favourite charity.

Ms Keene, then nine, was dressed as a little Red Cross nurse and took the two calves to Guildford Market, drawing large crowds. The former Prime Minister, David Lloyd George, was at the event and was photographed with Ms Keene.

Later a Spillers’ cattle feed representative saw the pictures while visiting the family farm and persuaded the family to let him use a photo for his firm’s calf rearing booklet, which then went round the world.

But there is heartbreak as well as joy in the book. Having been jilted by a long-term fiance, Ms Keene spent her life savings buying Calcutt Manor, near her father’s native Cricklade.

She ran it as a farm until she married Barry Jones, who, despite being chairman of the local Young Farmers Club, was not particularly interested in farming.

The couple had two children, Trevor and Patricia. While picnicking at Cheddar Gorge, nine-year-old Trevor was hit on the head by a falling rock and, despite being given eight pints of blood, he died in hospital.

Ms Keene’s description of the aftermath of the death is very moving. Ms Keene became a blood donor to help other children like Trevor.

Ms Keene’s book provides a fascinating glimpse into the life of an agricultural family during and after the Second World War and the photographs alone are worth the price of the book.

Ms Keene is selling the book at the flea market in Devizes Corn Exchange every Thursday. Otherwise they can be ordered by ringing (01380) 731692 or by emailing lcowen@newswilts.co.uk