FROM a young lad riding his pony to school and holding the record for receiving the most canings in a single term through to owning the world's oldest sheep, 84-year-old John Eaton has had an interesting life.

Much of his time has been spent in the shadows of Bredon Hill, born in Kersoe he now lives at nearby Elmley Castle.

But his life has not been without adventure.

Now he has published the final edition of his life story, titled A Lad from Elmley, which recounts many an amusing tale from his life.

The book begins by taking the reader back to 1931 when Mr Eaton was born on a little farm to Bob and Ethel Eaton, and his older brother Gerald.

His love of horses could not be avoided as he often rode to and from school, and even sometimes joined the hunt on his lunch break. This went on to see him racing horses.

In fact so good were young John's skills he was taken on as the driver of the pony and trap for the headmaster of Battledown School, Cheltenham, but spent a good deal of time waiting outside the many ale houses he frequented.

He went onto attend The Hostel, Kings School. He writes: "In those days a preferred method of punishment for bad behaviour was 'the cane'. I can boast that I held the records for 47 strokes across my backside one term."

After leaving school at 14 Mr Eaton worked for a few years in Canada before returning to England to join the Air Force, based in Warrington.

He writes: "A favourite 'past time', during my time in Warrington, was to bet colleagues a five pound note to run across the parade naked. I am proud to say that I completed the task and was five pounds better off."

But Mr Eaton's longest job was working as a builder in the Pershore and Evesham district, where he built and developed a great many homes, including 28 flats for the elderly in Cherry Orchard, Pershore for the district council.

He also met and married Diana and went on become a father of four and grandfather of six and still lives in Elmley Castle.

Mr Eaton is also no stranger to being in the Journal having recently claimed to have the world's oldest sheep. Sophie the sheep, who is in fact male, was named after his granddaughter and lived to be 21 before dying earlier this year.

He said: "I decided to write this third edition of my book as a last swing."

To read the many stories Mr Eaton has to tell buy the book, which costs £7 with all profits going to the Evesham and District Mental Health Support Services, from the Central Market in Pershore, Wallace House in Evesham and Gummy Gumdrops sweet shop in Evesham.