Sussex Living July 2021

Page 124

RETIREMENT

An Ode to an Adventurous Life “T ell me what you think, and be honest,” insisted Fran Parsons as I sat down for a one-to-one performance of her poetry, with a cup of tea and a slice of carrot cake. She’s the kind of person that immediately grabs the attention of those around her. Not because of her shock of pink hair, but because of the wit and insight offered by her verse. It’s her performance that brings the text to life, lifting the words off the pages, allowing them to fly through the ether, and to entertain. Fran’s book, Rhymes For Our Times was produced in conjunction with her

124 SUSSEX LIVING | July 2021

What do you do when you reach your mid 80’s and feel a little restless? Start writing poetry and get yourself published, of course. We sent Robert Veitch for a private audience with Fran Parsons

friend, Judy Sharp, and the illustrator, Amy Bright. The project was entirely selffinanced and every penny from sales helps one charity or another. “Distribution is the hardest thing,” she acknowledged. Fran met Judy Sharp when they both lived on the Algarve. They came back to England at different times and lost touch until a chance encounter at a Haywards Heath hypnotherapist reignited their friendship.

Fran sent a box containing 40 copies of the book to her son in Melbourne, Australia; to raise funds for bush fire related charities. Several copies were also sent to Folkestone in Kent, to help raise funds for students. Locally, St Peter & St James Hospice has been the greatest beneficiary, with a sizeable chunk of the 500 copy print run available for purchase in their shops. “Although I retired from paid work many years ago, I don’t feel like I’ve actually retired. Writing poetry seems to have become another string to my bow,” Fran observed. She told me her first poem about a nearby shop was submitted


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