Jaynie’s moving book makes its mark
Reporter: Marina Berry
Date published: 24 August 2010
A TEA PARTY launch of a moving collection of poems from Greenfield poet, Jaynie Huxley, netted £465 for Oldham Cancer Support Centre.
The launch took place at Delph’s Fresca Italian restaurant on Friday, when 31 books, sporting her trademark red wig and Doc Marten boots on the front cover, were sold.
Jaynie, who died eight weeks ago, never saw a copy of her finished book, and her family were there on Friday in her place.
Proud husband Mark, her parents Ray and Eunice Liddy, and her sister Carol Liddy were there to meet people who turned out to support the cause at the launch of “Let The Swearing Begin — expressions of a nine year cancer journey.”
Jaynie jotted poems on pieces of paper as a way of coping with the disease which was to take her life just two days short of her 47th birthday.
They were spotted by Oldham Cancer Support Centre fundraiser Beverley Heap, who was so moved by them she urged Jaynie to turn them into a book.
She agreed, publishing was funded by an £8,000 gift from the borough’s business community, and Jaynie pledged all the proceeds to the charity which gave great support to both her and her family.
The book is a collection of poems written during her long struggle against the disease, and is laced with Jaynie’s own inimitable sense of humour.
The book is on sale at £14.99 from the Chronicle offices, Union Street, Oldham, and from Oldham Cancer Support Centre, which is based in Failsworth Primary Care Resource Centre, Ashton Road West.
