Travelling octogenarian launches first poetry collection

When Westward Ho! resident Hilda Cochrane was encouraged to go to follow other girls to secretarial college in the late 1950s, she was determined to turn it to advantage.

So while her boss thought she was busy working, she was actually tapping away drafting poetry at her typewriter.

Now aged 84, she has fulfilled her dream of seeing her work in print.

Hilda said: “At 23 years of age and three months into marriage, my husband’s company despatched us overseas and this was my life for many years. In fact, our three children grew up overseas, necessitating boarding schools when the time arose.

“With my second husband, we at last settled in Britain in 1985 and found ourselves in Scotland. Staying in one place though did not happen. John was a construction engineer and all over Britain we went, living in Cumbria and Wales and Scotland again.”

A Chair at the Cafe was released by publisher Crumps Barn Studio on November 23. Described as travel writing in poetry, it is a journey through the locations Hilda has known and loved within the UK and abroad. 

Hilda added: “I’ve never stopped dreaming of being a published writer. I belong to a creative writing group, and I’ve always valued their enthusiasm and encouragement.

“Rather late in the day, when I was in my early sixties, I graduated from Open University with a B.A. in English Literature. It was a dream come true.

“Until that time, I had always worked and I even ran my own sandwich delivery business. This was in Cumbria. I retired when another move to Glasgow happened. When John reached 65 years, we, as Europeans, retired to Prades in France for 15 years before enjoying a year in Calpe, Spain.

“Then our need to be near family brought us back to Britain and Devon. I love living in Westward Ho! The kindness and friendliness here, a view of the sea, the wildlife – birds in particular – are my passion. There is no danger to them here. Birds are hunted widely in France and Spain and we rarely saw them, except in our garden.

“I was born in 1939 and it seems incredible that I began writing at secretarial college. In those days girls were encouraged to train as typists because ‘soon we would be married and rearing children, and there was no point in a career’!

“So I worked as a secretary in London and began writing poetry at my desk. In any case, tapping away made it look as though I was working hard!

“Now all these years later I have a published book in my hands and it is perfect. A dream come true.”

Lorna Brookes, editor at Crumps Barn Studio, said:, “When Hilda first shared her poetry with me, I could actually feel the warmth of the Mediterranean sun in her words. I immediately loved the sense of travel.

Hilda’s poetry is like going on a journey, filled with humour and a magical sense of place.”

A Chair at the Café is in bookshops now. For more information visit https://www.crumpsbarn.online