THE STORY of a Canadian great-grandmother who lived through The Great Depression and settled in post-war Britain has been published for the first time.

Devoted teacher and keen church-goer Kathleen Evans, known as Kay, died aged 89 last July.

She moved to England in the 1940s after meeting her fighter pilot husband Emrys and settled in Sowerby, near Thirsk, North Yorkshire, in the 1960s - working as a teacher and devoting her spare time to her family and church.

At the age of 84, she put pen to paper to share her memories and wrote down her recollections every month for the next five years.

They provide an insight into the life of a young girl living in a prairie community during the Great Depression and follow her as she settles in a struggling post-war Britain.

Her vivid recollections have been published by her family in a compilation called Knee High on The Prairie and the Seasons that Followed.

It is now for sale in her local church – St Oswald’s in Sowerby – and all proceeds will be split between the church, where she was an active member of the congregation, and Waves, a centre for young adults with disabilities.

Her son, David Evans, 63, said: “We wanted to pay tribute to our mother and wanted to make this a memorial that would do some good for two causes important to her.

“She did a lot for the church and Waves is where her grandson, George – who was not expected to live – goes.

“She was a great fundraiser and hopefully this will be a fitting tribute to her.”

Copies of the book can be bought from St Oswald’s Church in Sowerby or by calling 01273 299219.