A former Herefordshire support worker is offering a humorous insight into his working life having written a new book.

Ross-on-Wye resident and local author Graham Phipps worked for over ten years helping support people who needed care in the Herefordshire area.

His new book ’Apparently I’m not Everyone’s Cup of Tea: Memoirs of a bemused support worker’ was released on Friday January 28.

Graham describes the book as ’an insight into the often humorous experiences of a Herefordshire support worker whose advice, despite good intentions, was at best briefly considered but usually fell into the completely ignored category.’

As well as his working life the book also covers Graham’s past life experiences including taking clients horse-riding which brought back childhood memories of his grandfather taking a donkey named Lucky on loan only for Graham to be thrown off every-time he mounted the donkey.

With the country having been shut down recently due to Covid, Graham took the time during lockdown to write his memoirs down with the book taking 18 months to complete as he added to it as and when he remembered relevant scenarios.

Speaking to the Gazette about the book, Graham said: "My inspiration for writing comes from some of the characters I met, and the amusing scenarios I experienced whilst working with people who were supported under the various support-based contracts.

"I had to hit the ground running, one day trying to make sense of a cheese and potato pie recipe whilst the residents waited patiently for dinner, the next day playing golf with a client who pushed cheating to the limits."

Moving to Ross-on-Wye in the late 1950s, Graham attended primary school in Ross before his family once again moved away in the early 1960s before returning to Herefordshire ten years later.

Graham only came to becoming a support worker in 2003, after being made redundant from his previous job at an engineering company. Fortunately for Graham, he managed to quickly secure two roles supporting people across the Herefordshire county.

He eventually progressed to become a co-ordinator in the Ross and Ledbury areas until 2012 when his firm’s contact was taken over by another health provider, with Graham taken on by the new provider but having to revert back to his position as a support worker.

Graham eventually retired in 2015, which is covered in the book’s last chapter.

Summarising his working career, Graham added: "My advice when working with people is to always have a plan B, a lot of the scenarios I encountered ultimately came under the heading of ’more thinking required."

Graham’s book can be picked up at various locations including Hop Pocket Shopping Village, Ledbury Books and Maps, Hereford Cathedral book shop and the Castle Bookshop Ludlow for a price of £9.99.

The book can also be ordered through Rossiters book shop in Ross and Leominster. An Ebook edition will also be available to purchase for £2.99 from January 28.