Patricia Rock, who has lived in Church Court, Midsomer Norton, for twenty one years, has “finally” completed her autobiography, aged 92-years-old.
Daughter-in-law, Rachael Jarrett, told The Journal: “Before Covid you may have seen her out in her power chair.
“For the past thirty years she has been working on her autobiography, which has just been published on Kinde and is now also available as a printed paper book “Following my Leader A Health Visitor Remembers” (ISBN 978-3999-5244-5).
“Her story starts in an idyllic little Essex hamlet, but soon the peace was shattered by World War 2. Deprived of education and sleep by frequent air raids, it seemed she could never realise her dreams.
“After the turmoil of teens, the birth of the National Health Service enabled her to start nursing. This gives an insight into the wonderful early days of the NHS when everything was free.
“Then, after a year in Midwifery, Pat worked with physically disabled children which led her into Health Visiting.
“Day to day incidences in the rest of her working life as a Health Visitor, a holiday romance, family life and her own health make for compelling reading.”
Commenting on her brilliant achievement, Patricia said, “I have always wanted to help people and enjoyed Health Visiting so much, I wanted to let young girls know what it was like.”
“Becoming disabled was an incentive that perhaps I could still help people in this way.”
“Over the past thirty years I have written and rewritten my book several times, until satisfied that it was readable.”.
“Now that it has been published I just feel a sense of relief and hope it will be of help to those who read it”.