This book comprises a selection of poetry and prose inspired by my holidays
in the West Country, illustrated with colour photographs of some of my favourite
haunts.
I have always loved this part of England, some of my earliest childhood
holidays being spent in West Bay, Dorset where I stayed with my parents
and brother at the George Hotel, over-looking the quay. Later holidays were
spent in Cornwall, and at Exmouth and Sidmouth in Devon, and most of the
anthology features these locations, especially the delightful Regency town
of Sidmouth.
“Would you like clotted or pouring cream, Sir?” asked the waiter politely. “Why do they have to ask so many questions?” demanded the elderly gentleman guest irascibly to his lady companion after the waiter had gone. Over-heard conversations in a restaurant can be funny, fascinating and revealing. The above was spoken by a guest at the Victoria Hotel, Sidmouth in May 1987. My brother Anthony and I were staying there for 10 days and there was an interesting variety of visitors there at that time. Many of them knew each other and returned for the same week year after year. We often speak of that particular holiday.
We first visited the Victoria Hotel in May 1982 when the Falklands War was on. All the guests were watching the progress of the war on the television in the sun lounge. Our mother was alive then and she loved the hotel immediately. The luxury of the surroundings, although not too opulent and overwhelming, the beautiful flower arrangements, the excellence of the cuisine and the friendliness of the staff all combined to make it a perfect holiday hotel. The very building itself has a solid, welcoming appearance, inspiring confidence and ease as one enters the revolving door into the panelled warmth of the hall. Afternoon tea is a favourite at the Vic, when everything stops for that special pot of freshly-brewed tea with accompanying home-made cakes and scones.
“Bemused passers-by watched as the tidal wave of terriers swept up the front path, through the front door into the hall and out into the small back garden”. We have owned dogs in the family since I was eight. At the time of acquiring our house in Temple Street we owned five and of course they all accompanied us there on each holiday; it would not be the same without them, and we wouldn’t dream of leaving them behind. When we had holidays at The Victoria we always took Thomas our wire-haired fox terrier; he became very well known to the regular guests and staff.
My interest in writing poetry began in 2002 after a short stay in hospital.
I found writing to be very therapeutic and enjoyable. All of my poems are
easy to read and understand, and I hope they appeal to people who like poetry
to be light, descriptive and at times amusing. I do not write gloomy, dark
poems with a depressing miserable theme.
People come on holiday to relax, unwind and enjoy themselves, and these
are the people to whom I hope “Tea at The Victoria” will appeal.
Future project. I have recently featured in an article in the “Sidmouth Herald” requesting readers to send in stories and photographs of rescued dogs in the East Devon area to enable me to prepare a book describing these re-homing tales. The response has been good and I thank everyone who has written to me, but I still welcome more stories to put in this book. I am also hoping to get sponsorship from local businesses in order to keep printing costs low. Proceeds from the sale of the book will go to ARC (Animal Rescue Centre).
