An inspirational memoir written by a lady who was diagnosed with cancer four times over a 25-year period has finally been published – more than 40 years after her death.
Hebridean Solace – My Quarter-Century Living with Cancer is the story of Mairi MacBride, a dressmaking teacher and Celtic art expert who was born in Paisley in 1900 and died in 1980 at her home at Duntulm, Salen, where she lived most of her life.
Mairi was diagnosed with cancer on four separate occasions between 1950 and 1975.
She believed God spared her for so long because he had a purpose for her – “to put down on paper my experiences of living with cancer that other sufferers might have the courage to face what has to be faced.”
“Mairi was a woman of inspirational faith and dignity who came from a generation that just got on with whatever challenges life threw at them,” said Michael McGeary, owner of publisher McGeary Media.
“Mairi’s book is full of positivity and zest for life, and we’re delighted to be able to share this short book and hopefully inspire others.”
The book came to light thanks to Mairi’s great-niece Fiona Somerled, who also came up with the title.
It was initially published for family and friends only but has now been made available in paperback and ebook editions.
Mairi contributed newspaper articles and gave lectures on the subject of Celtic art and became an accidental radio star after a BBC producer knocked on her door one day in 1953 and asked her to describe Mull to those who had never been.
“Now if there is one thing I like better than anything else it is to describe the beauty that is Mull!” Mairi writes in the book.
“So I described a view that took in the whole Sound of Mull—the panoramic view from Gualann Dhubh, the highest point on the road from Salen to Tobermory, with Ardnamurchan in the west and Ben Cruachan in the east.
“Dotted between, there were the Green Islands, the Grey Islands and Lismore. On the Morvern side, there was also a wonderful stretch from Drimnin to Lochaline and beyond.
“My second view, which I loved to remember, was from midway across the Sound of Iona between Fionnphort and Iona, where looking north were the hills of Skye and Rhum, and looking south, the Torrin Rocks, the Paps of Jura and on a good day, a glimpse of Islay.”
The next day a crew of 12 arrived to record the programme. A year later Mairi met two ladies on a sleeper train from Euston to Oban, who told her they were going to Mull.
“I asked them why they had chosen Mull rather than, say, Skye, which was a more widely known island,” she said.
“Their reply left me speechless for a minute when they said that in Manchester they had listened to a programme on the radio about Mull, and a woman had described how very beautiful it was. When I said I was that woman, I do not know which of us was the most surprised!”
Hebridean Solace – My Quarter-Century Living with Cancer will be on sale from amazon.co.uk on October 1 and pre-orders are now being taken.
You can also order direct from the publisher by emailing mcgearymedia@gmail.com.
