Mr Govier offers an intriguing glimpse into local family life in The Diaries of Olive Gilman an Edwardian Lady.

The book is the result of Mr Govier's research into the life of his grandmother, Olive Tye (nee Gilman), who died aged 93 in 1996, having lived her whole life in Hoxne, while working as a teacher in Eye, Worlingworth and Wingfield.

She was an integral part of village life, being a Sunday School teacher and a member of the parochial church council, Mothers' Union, Women's Institute, Royal British Legion and Over 60s Club.

Mr Govier said: "Her neatly written diaries record everyday events and details about villagers and village life and she even recorded meticulously what she bought in the village shops and further afield in Diss and Eye."

Together with notes made by his grandmother at Mr Govier's request, the book tells the tale of not only her family back to the 1500s, but of places and characters fondly remembered by people throughout the area.

"I regarded my grandparents as my mum and dad," said Mr Govier. "The cottage in which they lived – 49 Low Street – was full of family treasures in the form of postcards of the village and photos taken by George Rayner and his son in law James 'Boozle' Knights.

"The Gilman family bible was also full of details and the sideboard was packed with letters and items relating to the village."

Among Mrs Tye's memories are sections on various village characters and events, including details of her father's horse-drawn cart deliveries of groceries, the Zeppelin raid on Suffolk, the 1912 floods, rowing boat hire at Mr Chase's watermill, the Cross Street circus, ice skating on Oakley Park beck and even a Royal visit in 1866.

The book is illustrated throughout with many pictures published for the first time

"How glad I was that she did this labour of love for me," said Mr Govier, who has added information and details not available to his grandmother from his own archives and Census records.

The book is priced £7 and available from Hoxne Post Office, Eye Bookshop and Diss Tourist Information Centre or direct from Mr Govier at Maynards, Hoxne IP21 5AH (add £1 for postage).