The Sharville family celebrated Marion Sharville’s impending 90th year by publishing a stunning calendar as a surprise for their talented mum. The calendar is a collection of 12 of her poems, evoking the uniqueness of the seasons and the months and will be sold to help support other older people and carers through Worthing charity Guild Care.Paul Sharville said ‘mum has been writing poems and stories for as long as I can remember. Having raised seven kids, single-handedly after my dad died in 1974, she’s always managed to find time to write – prodigiously – between the piles of ironing and the piles of burnt toast (another speciality of hers). 89 years throws a lot of life experiences at you, which is of course where she gets her material. But it’s a real talent to be able to observe life while you’re in the thick of it, sometimes coping with it rather than celebrating it, and then write about it with such creative flair. Her talent has left us with a body of work that presents us generously with the heart-warming, humorous and moving story of the human condition in all its glory, adversity and eccentricity.’
The family chose to launch the calendar at Guild Care’s Healthy Living Centre for older people in Worthing which Marion attends regularly and particulary on Wednesdays where she is a member of the poetry group. Family and friends made a surprise visit to the centre on Wednesday 16 November and were joined by over 60 clients and staff who toasted her achievements with sparkling wine and cake. Marion’s funny and poignant observations on life can also be enjoyed in her two previously published anthologies: A Carrot in the Toaster and Pastry Needs a Light Touch. Her son Paul said ‘As well as celebrating mum’s gift as a writer, we pay respect to and celebrate the lifetime achievements of everyone who users the centre and are delighted to donate the proceeds from the sales to Guild Care.’
The calendar is available online and on sale for £5 from Guild Care’s charity shops in Worthing, Broadwater, Rustington and Goring, the GreenHouse in East Worthing and the Healthy Living Centre at Methold House, North Street, Worthing where both poetry books can also be purchased.