There was a great buzz of excitement at Sufton Court for the book launch of Judith Hereford’s first novel, ‘Calling Time’. The elegant rooms in this lovely house were alive with chatter as friends queued to buy books and have them signed by the author.

Judith Hereford has had a very varied life, she was born in New Zealand and trained as a nurse before travelling the world then returning to NZ to join the Army. She met her husband, Major James Hereford in Malaysia before settling in the UK over 40 years ago. She now lives at the family farm in Mordiford, near Ross-on-Wye.

Her experience in care in this country and oversees has influenced her choice of theme for her first novel.

The story covers the very topical subject of growing old and how we care for our relatives. Part One follows two girls, Angela and Kristine, who work at an Old Peoples’ Home in New Zealand in the 1950s where the care is often frightening and Part Two catches up with them 45 years later. Angela is still in NZ and Kristine now resides in the UK, and they themselves are growing old. Will they suffer the same treatment they meted out to the residents all that time ago? The story raises many questions often considered as people get older – Would you prefer to end it all? What do you do with mother-in-law? Challenging questions in a first novel.

Judith Hereford has had an amazing life, which she will reveal more about when she publishes her memoirs.

Copies of ‘Calling Time’ can be purchased at local bookshops or direct from www.troubador.co.uk