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Roald Dahl: Great Missenden celebrates author Roald Dahl: Great Missenden celebrates author
(about 2 hours later)
The life of Roald Dahl is being celebrated with a "big hurrah" in the village where he wrote many of his best-loved books.The life of Roald Dahl is being celebrated with a "big hurrah" in the village where he wrote many of his best-loved books.
The author lived in Great Missenden, Buckinghamshire, for 36 years and penned titles including The BFG and Matilda from a shed in his garden.The author lived in Great Missenden, Buckinghamshire, for 36 years and penned titles including The BFG and Matilda from a shed in his garden.
Reverend Rosie Harper is leading a service celebrating his life. The Reverend Canon Rosie Harper is leading a service celebrating his life.
"The work of Roald Dahl brought life and energy to the village," she said. "It's going to be a very positive day.""The work of Roald Dahl brought life and energy to the village," she said. "It's going to be a very positive day."
Celebrations are taking place around the world to mark 100 years since Dahl was born.Celebrations are taking place around the world to mark 100 years since Dahl was born.
The author moved to Great Missenden in 1954 with his first wife, Patricia Neal, and lived there until his death in 1990.The author moved to Great Missenden in 1954 with his first wife, Patricia Neal, and lived there until his death in 1990.
Stories including Fantastic Mr Fox and Danny the Champion of the World drew inspiration from local landmarks or characters.Stories including Fantastic Mr Fox and Danny the Champion of the World drew inspiration from local landmarks or characters.
The writing hut in which he would spend hours in a day has been preserved and is now part of a museum which opened in the village in 2005.The writing hut in which he would spend hours in a day has been preserved and is now part of a museum which opened in the village in 2005.
Ms Harper said Dahl, who is buried in the village, "changed the dynamic" of what would otherwise would have been a "sleepy village filled with people who commute to London". Canon Harper said Dahl, who is buried in the village, "changed the dynamic" of what would otherwise would have been a "sleepy village filled with people who commute to London".
"When you come to Great Missenden you see it's full of children," she said."When you come to Great Missenden you see it's full of children," she said.
Some of the young Dahl fans from local schools will take part in the service at the St Peter and St Paul Church.Some of the young Dahl fans from local schools will take part in the service at the St Peter and St Paul Church.
"The service is going to be in three parts, with the first a thank you from the children," Mrs Harper said. "The second will be a thank you from the adults, looking at his biography and more than just the funny things in his life. "The service is going to be in three parts, with the first a thank you from the children," Canon Harper said. "The second will be a thank you from the adults, looking at his biography and more than just the funny things in his life.
"The final thank you will be from the community, as people don't have the vaguest idea what a huge difference Roald Dahl had on the village.""The final thank you will be from the community, as people don't have the vaguest idea what a huge difference Roald Dahl had on the village."
Mrs Harper said the service would be a "celebration", with party poppers at the end and "three cheers to Roald Dahl". Canon Harper said the service would be a "celebration", with party poppers at the end and "three cheers to Roald Dahl".
She said Dahl was not known to be a regular visitor to the church, with his early commitment to religion ending when his experience as a pilot in the war "put him off".She said Dahl was not known to be a regular visitor to the church, with his early commitment to religion ending when his experience as a pilot in the war "put him off".
"As a personality he was quite a miserable guy, but the effect he had was quite profound," she said."As a personality he was quite a miserable guy, but the effect he had was quite profound," she said.