A Pattern of Shadows

About the Book

A Pattern of Shadows is set in August 1914 and looks at the shattering effect the approaching conflict has on the lives of three young people who have grown up together in the same Kentish village. Alice Campion keeps house at Rendle Manor for her father, Sir Douglas, and younger brother, Ben. She is in love with Peter Crawford, a professional soldier and eldest son of one Sir Douglas’s tenants. However, she becomes aware of a mystery over Peter’s birth which could affect their future together. Ben sails to America as war is declared on a pre-arranged visit. Meanwhile Peter embarks with his unit for France. Sir Douglas decides to turn Rendle Manor into a hospital and sends Alice to London to a meeting at the Local Government Board, where she makes an astonishing discovery about herself. She returns home confused and unable to concentrate. In France, Peter is involved in the general retreat from Mons and is wounded. Ben, emboldened by his experiences, returns from America to join the Royal Flying Corps, and with the news he is to be married. Peter’s mother, Edna, finally divulges the secret that will allow Alice to marry Peter. However, no one has heard from him for over a week. The novel ends at the beginning of September with Alice hoping for a letter, but determined not to lose heart. The epilogue, which looks back at events in the war, is set in 1930.

About the Author

Ralph Terence Fairhead was born in Islington, London in 1930. Only at his christening was his first name used. Forever after he was known as "Terry". Educated at East Barnet Grammar School, he managed to frustrate his teachers and parents by twice failing to pass the School Certificate examination, before leaving at the age of 16. However, after a series of no-hope jobs, including 18 months National Service in the RAF, he finally committed himself to five years of study at night-school to end up with a Higher National Certificate in mechanical engineering at the age of 32. The real turning point in his life was when, in 1960, he met his future wife, Sylvia. They married in October of the same year and by 1964 had two children, David and Jane. They moved to Meopham in Kent in 1963 where they have lived ever since, apart from engineering postings in Hong Kong (2 years), Cyprus (6 months) and Norway (3 years). He started writing as a hobby in 1969 when he was asked to write an article on the family's stay in Hong Kong for the company's house magazine. Since then, he has had an article and some short stories published but, until he retired in 1994, was not able to devote the time to researching and writing a novel. In 2000 he was runner-up in the Churchill Theatre one-act play competition and has had a full-length play performed by Meopham Players.