81 year old publishes his debut novelIt is inspired by his own life and experiencesView 2 Images Grockle by Barry S DowdingAt an age when many are winding down, Barry S Dowding decided to start again. At 81, he’s published his first novel — a gritty, heartfelt story set against the backdrop of 1970s North Devon. ‌The idea for Grockle — Barry’s debut novel — had been with him in fragments for years. View 2 Images Grockle by Barry S DowdingDevon in the Seventies: The Unlikely Muse‌Barry’s love for North Devon — especially Barnstaple — runs deep. “Can you imagine a North Devon pre-link road, with no Taw Bridge, no Green Lanes?