Friends of a Sidmouth poet have released her compositions and illustrations to raise money for a pair of causes close to her heart.

Friends of a Sidmouth poet have released her compositions and illustrations to raise money for a pair of causes close to her heart.

The booklet by pensioner Jeanne Selley contains work she has written over the years, with proceeds to be split between Leprosy Mission and Sidmouth Hospiscare, writes Clarissa Place.

Her friends have joined forces to publish the book as the Sidmouthian is now confined to a bed at Holmesley care home due to her health.

Anne Barratt, of Fitzalan Gems, who has known Jeanne for more than 20 years, said: “She has been like a mum to me. The hospice has been so good to Jeanne and she has for a long time had the Leprosy Mission close to her heart. She organised coffee mornings and it was the shop’s charity - we always supported it.

“She has done a lot of poetry. She has written a lot as people have requested them.”

Jeanne was born in Selley’s Yard, now Libra Court, and has worked and lived in the Sid Valley all her life.

She took over the Sidbury’s old bakery with two friends before working at Tudor Amethyst and Fitzalan Gems.

Jeanne said: “At quite an early age I would write what I would call rubbish poetry - I wrote whatever the occasion.

“Over the years, I have develop these poems adding my own paintings and calligraphy and the results are in this booklet.

“Confined to a hospice bed at Holmesley and partially blind, my output is rather limited. But a number of friends have asked me to collect my poems in this booklet and sell it for Hospiscare and Leprosy Mission.”

Poems and Illustrations by Jeanne can be bought from churches and Fitzalan Gems.