Author Bridget Ashton officially launched her brand new book with friends and family at a launch event in Hay Library on Friday, 21 November.

Bridget’s latest book ‘My Mother and the Curate,’ is an interesting look into two diaries of life in Hay-on-Wye from 1953 and 1870, from Bridget’s mother, Mrs Eileen Ashton, and Revd Francis Kilvert.

A large turnout came to the launch, including members of the Kilvert Society, and old friends and family of Bridget.

The event, in partnership with The Brecon and Radnor Express, started with Bridget introducing guests, and the book and speaking about how she came to write it. Readings from the book followed with author Bridget playing the part of her mother, Eileen, Bridget’s younger brother Stephen playing Kilvert and Bridget’s Daughter Laura as narrator.

A celebratory popping of the champagne took place to officially launch ‘My Mother and the Curate’, before Bridget held a book signing as many attendees jumped at the chance to purchase the new book with the author’s signature.

A contingent of visitors then made their way to Kilverts Inn in Hay-on-Wye to continue celebrations.

The book alternates chapter by chapter with the diarists’ daily lives in 1953 and 1870, revealing intimate personal details and stories of the rich and the poor around them. It contains over seventy historic photos and illustrations, many being published for the first time.

The reader is exposed to the unedited struggles of a hard-up mother of six in post-war Hay, who wrote every night in her Boots Scribbling diary, and in contrast with selections from the Revd Francis Kilvert’s well-known diaries for ten months during 1870.

They reveal their private emotions as they wrote of visits to rich and poor, daily meals, their sometimes-ambivalent feelings to children and young women, his Anglicanism and her devotion to the small Roman Catholic church in Hay-on-Wye, and their walks in the countryside.

The book ends dramatically with the unforeseen sorrows of both diarists.

The author’s mother, Mrs Eileen Ashton, and Revd Francis Kilvert both lived in and near the Welsh border town of Hay-on-Wye, eighty years apart.

‘My Mother and the Curate’ is the latest of Bridget’s books, having already written Hay Before the Bookshops Or the Beeman’s Family, Hit the Road, Gals and Cold War, Warm Hearts. Originally from Hay, she is now living in Northumberland with her husband Bill.

‘My Mother and the Curate’ is available to buy in your local bookshop, or can be bought for £20, plus £4 postage.

There is also be a special offer for Brecon and Radnor Express readers who could not come on the day, of £18 with free postage. All you will have to do is email [email protected] to purchase the book and say that you are a Brecon & Radnor Express reader.

A two copies special offer to Brecon and Radnor Express readers is also available at £34 with free postage, also by emailing: [email protected]