A trip down memory lane for author Mark (From Cotswold Journal)

A trip down memory lane for author Mark

WHEN Welsh-born Mark Turner came to the Cotswolds, he never expected to have a piece of his native town follow him.

But that's what happened when Monmouth Station was bought and rebuilt, brick by brick, at the Winchcombe/Greet railway station on the Toddington to Cheltenham line.

"You can tell the stone isn't from the Cotswolds because it's dark," said Mark, who lives in Moreton. "The station back in Wales had been standing idle for years until it was bought in the 1980s and moved here. It's curious to see my old home station again - they've done a superb job with it."

The story is part of Mark's new book, Curious Cotswolds, being published by Tempus shortly.

The book is packed with fascinating tales of places off the beaten track - many of which Mark stumbled across during his work as a police officer for the Gloucestershire Constabulary. Some are historic, some are rural, some are close to more well-known attractions, and some are plain hard to find.

"As a child I was always very interested in local history and archaeology," explained Mark. "My interest has stemmed from there. I've also been writing as a hobby for many years."

His first published book was called Folklore and Mysteries of the Cotswolds, although he had started writing this one beforehand. "It was languishing on the back burner for many years, then, two years ago I decided it was a ridiculous state of affairs! I had done so much research and had so many stories that I started putting it together. It's been great fun.

"I love the Cotswolds, all the gold-coloured stone, and the villages are so attractive."

The book is divided into four geographic sections including Oxfordshire and Worcestershire. It takes the readers on a circuitous journey stopping at a host of unusual places and telling stories that, by and large, escape usual guidebooks.

As well as Winchcombe railway station, there is St Edward's Well at Stow - was it named after Edward the Confessor or Edward a local hermit?

Then there's Spoonley Villa, deep in the heart of Sudeley Valley, situated on a public footpath. "In summer you have to be like Indiana Jones to get there," warned Mark. "But it's worth the effort to see the Roman ruins - gold stones of a villa set in a wood and part of a reconstructed mosaic which dates back to the third century AD. The site was

excavated in 1882 and the walls rebuilt a little.

And there are wildflowers, butterflies, and even buzzards flying overhead."

The book is written in a light-hearted vein and is even a bit flippant at times, admitted Mark, who hopes it will not just be an armchair exploration for readers but prompt them to actually go and see some of the places.

He has difficulty in getting to some of them himself now because of Multiple Sclerosis which forced him to leave the police. He had spent 22 years in the force after previously being in the Army. "It's made me a bit slow, but it gives me more time to stop and think," he said.

Writing and the countryside is a far cry from Mark's other main interest - rock music. This is a Peter Gabriel fan who has seen the man in concert 14 times. He has written articles on rock music and even set pub quizzes.

Always one to get involved with the local community, Mark is a transport co-ordinator for North Cotswolds Voluntary Help Centre based in Moreton. The centre opened a new branch at Bourton's Moore Health Centre yesterday, which will operate on alternate Wednesdays along with Westwood Health Centre at Northleach.