Poet Jean is forever remembered in verse

A WIDOWER has published a poignant book of poetry, written by his wife to raise money for Cancer Research UK.

The poems are drawn from a selection, Echoes of Me, written by Jean Ward before her death from cancer last year.

John Ward with Pam Boundy (chairman, Camelford branch of Cancer Research UK), and Madge Walkey (treasurer) and the book of poems by John's late wife, Jean Ward.

Her husband, John Ward,78, from Boscastle, said: "I think the book is a tribute to Jean. She never really showed anybody her work and I knew very little about it.

"She always dabbled in poetry but I only discovered the extent of her writing after her death. I am aware that she destroyed a great deal of it but I found all these poems in one exercise book and felt it was a fitting tribute to her life."

Rugged

There are 24 poems in the book covering a wide range of subject topics. One of the poems tells of Jean's Swedish grandfather who was a sailor on the tall ships. Another deals with the subject of Vietnam and some with the rugged Cornish countryside that she loved.

Now the books will be sold through the Camelford branch of Cancer Research UK or from John, and are priced at £3.00 with all proceeds going to the charity.

But John has wider ambitions for his wife's work. Camelford based artist John Blight is providing illustrations for some specially selected poems which will then be plastic coated as individual pieces to be sold as stand alone items or poetry magnets.

John and Jean were married for more than 50 years, moving from their native Yorkshire to Cornwall in 1966. John said: "We lived by Roughtor at one stage and that inspired Jean and there are a couple of poems in the book about that.

"When I found all this poetry I showed it to Helen Wood at the Indian Kings Centre in Camelford and she felt they were worthy of publication.

"Jean was firt diagnosed with cancer eight years ago but recovered after chemotherapy and then tragically developed Alzheimers before the cancer came back and that was the cause of her death last year.

This book is a memorial to her but I would also like to be able to sell the one off plastic coated poems to raise money for the Alzheimers Society." One of the poems, Echoes of Me, was the inspiration for the title of the book and is published below.

The book can be obtained from the Camelford branch of Cancer Research UK or direct from John on 01840 250647.

Echoes of Me

Hear my voice in the whispering grass

and the waving corn, as the breezes pass;

in the wild sweet sound of the skylark's cry,

away and free in the morning sky.

Find me in the green hedgerows

where to dog rose and honeysuckle grow;

as a shadow in the woodland dell,

between the primrose and the sweet bluebell

Hear me tread across the sun-kissed sand

feel in the rain the touch of my hand.