Alison uttley diaries

Alison uttley little grey rabbit
Margaret tempest
Alison Jane Uttley was an English writer of over 100 books.

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Alison Uttley, ‘Spinner of Tales’, creator of Little Grey Rabbit

Alison Uttley as a young woman

Kari Dorme

Little Grey Rabbit

Kari Dorme

It is sad to note that our town has few, if any, reminders of Alison Uttley, one of Beaconsfield’s many famous authors, who lived here from 1938 to 1976.

Alison was born in 1884, at Castle Top Farm in Derbyshire. A bright scholar, in 1906 she became one of the first women to graduate from Manchester University with a degree in physics. She went into teaching but, widowed early and with a young son to support, she turned to writing. Her first book for children, ‘The Squirrel, the Hare and the Little Grey Rabbit’ was published in 1929. It was the first of what was to become a world-famous series of charming country tales.

Alison moved to Beaconsfield in 1938, the same year as Enid Blyton. (Unfortunately, she took a great dislike to her fellow author, whom she called a ‘vulgar, curled woman’.) Her house, which she named ‘Thackers’, was located in Ellwood Road. She lived there until her death in 1976, and is buried in Penn churchyard.

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Uttley, Alison (1884–1976)

Prolific British writer who is primarily known for her "Little Grey Rabbit" series. Name variations: Alice Jane Taylor Uttley. Born Alice Jane Taylor on December 17, 1884, in Cromford, Derbyshire, England; died on May 7, 1976, in High Wycombe, Buckinghamshire, England; daughter of Henry Taylor (a farmer) and Hannah (Dickens) Taylor; educated at Lady Manners Grammar School, Bakewell; graduated from Manchester University, B.Sc. (with honors), 1906; attended Ladies' Training College (later Hughes Hall), Cambridge, 1907; married James Arthur Uttley (a civil engineer), in 1911 (died 1930); children: one son John (1915–1978).

Selected novels:

High Meadows (1938); When All Is Done (1945).

Selected nonfiction:

The Country Child (1931); Ambush of Young Days (1937); The Farm on the Hill (1941); Ten Candlelight Tales (1942); Country Hoard (1943); Country Things (1946); Carts and Candlesticks (1948); (ed.) In Praise of Country Life (1949); Buckinghamshire (1950); Plowmen's Clocks (1952); The Stuff of Dreams (1953); Here's a New Da

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To promote interest in the life and work of Alison Uttley (1884-1976)

Quotes

“Why do children love them? Because I believe in them.
Mine aren’t made up. They are real…I don’t sit down to write a story, they come.”

“In these little books I always try to give some specially English touch of country life, which might [otherwise] be forgotten.”

~ Alison Uttley, writing about her characters.

Her Majesty the Queen and Alison Uttley’s ‘Little Grey Rabbit’ Books

Knowing that the Queen had read the Little Grey Rabbit books to her children, Denis Judd recently sent Her Majesty a copy of the new edition of his biography of Alison Uttley. The Queen was pleased to be reminded of the books which she and her family had so enjoyed reading. She also sent her good wishes to the members of the Alison Uttley Society.

About Alison Uttley

Alice Jane Uttley (1884-1976) was born Alice Taylor at Castle Top Farm, near Cromford, Derbyshire, and was educated at the Lea School in Holloway and the Lady Manners School in Bakewell, where she developed a love for science which culminated in