ARTIST Alan Oliver spent much of 2009 painting scenes in and around Bourne for a new book which was published in the autumn. It describes the landscapes and legends of Stamford, Bourne and the Deepings and was written by local historian Rex Needle and illustrated with a series of his watercolours.
The two worked together for almost a year to complete the book and the result is a beautifully produced volume of almost 100 pages in full colour and printed on art paper to ensure that the paintings are shown to their full effect.
The subject is that segment of South Lincolnshire countryside which embraces the three communities, outlining their histories, development and how they look today and taking a closer look at some of the more interesting places that are worthy of investigation.
The book explores the nooks and crannies of lesser travelled roads to provide a deeper understanding of the link between the three places, each having an aspect of life past and present which identifies one with another yet all separated by short drives through attractive countryside interspersed by interesting villages thus bringing together the stately charms of Burghley House and Grimsthorpe Castle with the simplicity of the Baptist Chapel at Haconby and the ancient stocks at Witham-on-the-Hill.
The 39 paintings reproduced included eleven from Bourne including the Red Hall, the Abbey Church, St Peter’s Pool and the woods at Bourne and all are reproduced below. Alan Oliver is recognised as one of the leading landscape artists in the Midlands as his work on this volume amply demonstrates, while Rex Needle, a retired journalist, has been chronicling the history of Bourne and surrounding area for the past decade and already has several publications to his credit.
This book is a must for anyone interested in the three places, a delightful and elegant gift or addition to any bookshelf which will be treasured and admired for many years to come.

WRITTEN MARCH 2009