RETIRED history teacher John Smith has returned to Newtown St Boswells for a secondary wander down memory lane.

The former Earlston High tutor, who is originally from Yorkshire, spent three years researching his first book on the history of the village between 1840 and 1920.

John, who is better known as JD, delightfully captured the sweeping changes of this Borders community through the Victorian and Edwardian eras.

And despite not having any connection with Newtown, the historian has gone back to the auction marts, railway station and high street to bring the compelling story even more up to date.

JD has spent a further three years travelling back and forward between his Earlston home and the research facility at Hawick Hub to produce a second slice of splendid social history, A View of Newtown St Boswells 1920 - 1960.

JD told us: "After retiring I looked at doing a history book on both St Boswells and Newtown St Boswells, but I soon discovered St Boswells already had a book from a few years back and there was no point in repeating what had been done.

"I decided to concentrate on Newtown St Boswells and took a lot of pleasure from writing A View of Newtown St Boswells 1840 - 1920.

"Like any other village in Scotland so much changed during those 80 years.

"After taking breath following the publication of the first book, I wanted to continue with the history of the village... and another three years on we have A View of Newtown St Boswells 1920 - 1960."

The First World War took its toll on cities, towns and villages up and down the country - and Newtown St Boswells was no different.

The railway station was regularly a hive of activity as soldiers - the lucky ones - returned from the battlefields of Europe.

JD's latest book charts the return as well as the peaceful two decades before the Second World War was to bring further anguish, pain and heartache for villagers.

Despite its size Newtown St Boswells boasted no fewer than three grocer's shops in 1925, as well as two hotels, two draper's shops, two garages, a tailor's, a baker's, a butcher's, a post office, a bank and a tobacconist's.

Its spinning mill, two auction marts and the Roxburgh County Council offices provided plenty employment.

And both Newtown Church and its village school had healthy numbers.

But A View of Newtown St Boswells 1920 - 1960 is a lot more than just facts, figures and dates.

JD brings the people and the village alive with his nose for a story and his easily digestible chapters - all splendidly laid out with accompanying photographs, diagrams and drawings.

Scandal erupted between the wars when the 'sheer pig-headed obstinacy' of Bowden's 84-strong Church congregation ended plans for a union with Newtown's 280 churchgoers.

There was more neighbourly rivalry when empty houses built in the village were turned down by many on the St Boswells waiting list.

Then there was the ongoing issues with water and sewage, and, oh yes, the rats.

Readers are introduced to the guilds, the societies and the social celebrations that provide the social fabric for the community.

And they get a flavour of a few of the tragedies which beset the village both on the roads and railway, as well as the weddings, the sporting achievements and obituaries.

JD brings home the difficulties and opportunities rationing brought for villagers.

And he even uncovers a small Prisoner of War camp briefly located near the Bogley Burn.

Newtown St Boswells may not have an abbey or a castle, its residents may not have changed the world, and it's unlikely it will ever feature heavily on the History Channel.

But for A View of Newtown St Boswells 1920 - 1960 it has provided an author and his readers with a thoroughly enjoyable and deeply engaging story of change in a Scottish Borders village.

A View of Newtown St Boswells 1920 - 1960 is on sale at Fraem's Newsagent's in Newtown St Boswells and Mason's Book Store in Melrose.