BUNGAY journalist and author Terry Reeve has just published his first novel, which is set in the town.Entitled The Spirit of The Fen, it will be officially launched at the Fisher Theatre tomorrow.

BUNGAY journalist and author Terry Reeve has just published his first novel, which is set in the town.

Entitled The Spirit of The Fen, it will be officially launched at the Fisher Theatre tomorrow.

Mr Reeve, currently associate editor of the journal, has written a number of local history books, but this is his first work of fiction, and the novel has been executed using his in depth knowledge and love of Bungay.

The novel follows Bungay teacher Danny, a man with a deep affinity with the beautiful Bungay Fen that he has visited since he was a boy.

However his world is turned upside down when he hears that the 400 acres of Suffolk countryside has been targeted for development, and, together with the help of local reporter Jenny, he sets about gathering local support to try and fight against the planning application.

As well as local issues, the novel tackles issues of spirituality and greed in today's world.

Mr Reeve said: “I wrote this as a novel for Bungay. The Spirit of the Fen is a 'what if' story - what would happen if a plan was put in to develop the ancient common.

“I have worked in many aspects of Bungay life, and developing green land is a topical theme at the moment. The issue of eco-towns has arisen even as the book was being printed - towns which would take up large areas of green land.”

He added: “As far as I know there have only been two other novels actually set in Bungay - Bungay Castle, which Elizabeth Bonhote wrote in 1797 (and which has been republished recently), and The Kettle Chronicles: The Black Dog, which the former Vicar of Bungay, the Rev Stephen Morgan, wrote in 2006.”

Previous books by Mr Reeve include A Common Privilege, the history of Bungay Common; The Day Bungay Burned, the history of the Great Fire of Bungay of 1688; and Wheel 'em In, Bungay!, the history of Bungay Town FC.

With his brother, Chris, he has also compiled two volumes of Beccles to Bungay, books of old photographs for Tempus Publishings' Images of England series.

The brothers are now collaborating on the second volume of The Town Recorder, also featuring around 200 old pictures, with the Town Recorder Frank Honeywood and Bungay publisher Peter Morrow, which will be launched during the Bungay festival in July.

Mr Reeve has also written a book on his childhood memories of Bungay in the 1950s, which he hopes to publish in the autumn.

Published by Exposure Printing, The Spirit of the Fen is available for £6.99 through local bookshops or via the internet.

Everyone is welcome at tomorrow's launch, from 1-3pm, when copies will be available and Mr Reeve will sign them.