The memoirs of a former Greenhead College head have been recounted in a book as part of a charity fundraising drive.
Huddersfield resident, Aina Mitchell, 84, who was assistant principal at the school, has recounted the early years of her life in her first book ‘Reflections of My Early Life’ for Target Ovarian Cancer.
Following her journey from a back-to-back house in Sowerby Bridge to becoming one of the first women in the country to gain a place at university post war, it shines a light on aspects of everyday life in the first half of the century, including rationing, long work hours and financial struggle.
The memories of Aina’s mother, an enterprising shop owner, are also included, in an attempt to ensure that the experiences of those who lived at the start of the century are not forgotten.
Aina, who now lives in Yew Tree Road, Birchencliffe, and taught French around the country before settling back in Huddersfield in the 1950s, decided to write the book to assist her friend, Joanna Barker, who heads the charity and lost both her mother and sister to the disease within six weeks of each other.
Talking about the book, which was published by Remous, she said: “I never set out to write a book but my younger relatives insisted that I write one to create a permanent record of my own and my mother’s memories.
“So I decided that I would do it but thought that rather than put it on proper sale I would write it to support the work of the charity.
“I limited my recollections to my early years up until 1947 and those of my mother from 1895 when she was born because that period of time is outside the experience of young people today.
“My intention was to show people what life was like during the World Wars, the preceding and interim periods.
“People have said to me after reading the book that they wished that they had asked their grandparents questions about their early life before they died but that they left it too late, so I hope it provides an account of life at that time.
“It took me about two months to write and although I’ve never written a book before I took to it quite well.”
She will donate the entire proceeds from the sale of the book, which costs £5, to the charity to help find new treatments for the disease and support women affected by it.
To buy the book, call Aina on 01422 311374.
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