Callands grandmother delighted as poem anthology published

Janet Connah turned her hand to poetry last year during the coronavirus lockdown, after finding herself with plenty of time on her hands and unable to see her family.

The anthology, entitled ‘Reflections on the Outside World and Within’, contains plenty of poems which were inspired by her hometown of Warrington.

One particular poem is based on the buffet bar at Warrington Bank Quay station, where on a cold early winter’s morning while waiting for a train to London, Janet had a chat with the two women serving hot drinks and refreshments.

Reflections on the Outside World and Within

The poem entitled Ladies of the Buffet Bar was created as a result.

Janet, a 78-year-old former journalist, said: “I was absolutely delighted when the book was accepted for publishing.

“During the lockdown of 2020, with time on my hands and unable to see my family, I set to work and wrote some poetry

“I have always written in a long working career, but this is the first time I have written purely as myself in a creative genre.”

Janet, who also worked in local government and national Government information press offices, has dedicated her book to her children and four grandsons.

Janet Connah

Her poems cover a wide range of subjects, from the heartbreak of lost love to pen portraits of people and everyday occurrence as seen through the eyes of child.

Some reflect the beauty of country landscapes, while others are based on the observation of normal everyday life – of sadness and of happiness.

All being well, Waterstones in Warrington has offered to do a book signing event later in the summer.

The book is available to order from a number of book sellers, including Amazon and publisher Austin Macauley.