AN author whose imagination and garden pond became key in his battle against cancer has shared his story with residents of a North Yorkshire care home.
Writer Henry Slator visited the Thistle Hill care centre in Knaresborough to share his unusual writing journey with residents which led to the publication of his book Conversations at the Pond.
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A keen nature enthusiast, Henry knew he was missing his usual light-hearted outlook on life whilst undergoing gruelling chemotherapy after a cancer operation in early 2020.
But he found it again by imagining conversations with creatures in and around his large garden pond.
He created Conversations at the Pond for anyone who might need a little lift to get through tough times or simply to boost their spirit and take a different, more humorous approach to life.
Henry had no idea that his garden pond would take centre stage in his story until walking the 130 paces to the bench on its island became a major part of his coping-with-chemo fight.
The nurses at The Royal Cornwall Hospital were given copies from the first print run because, as Henry writes: “I would not have written this story, and felt mentally better because of it, if it hadn't been for their encouragement.”
The author, who lives in Cornwall, treated Thistle Hill residents to a special book reading of Conversations At The Pond by the centre's own pond, complete with its own animal friends.
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Lucy Tomlinson, resident experience manager for Barchester Healthcare which runs the centre, said: “We are excited to work with people like Henry to bring a wide range of different experiences into our homes for all to enjoy, particularly as this talk provided such a great opportunity for residents to go on a journey with Henry and learn how he became an author."
General manager, Mandy Scott, added: “Our residents loved hearing all about Henry’s experiences and how he used his imagination to give him an escape from a difficult experience.
"They found his different characters and their escapades at the pond fascinating.”
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