In a new occasional series, KATE POWELL, Alton’s Anna Chaplain for Older People, gets to know its older community, their colourful stories and their attitudes to life. Here, Kate speaks to Pat Conyers.

How old are you and how long have you lived in Alton?

I am 93 years old and lived in Beech for 30 years, but moved into Alton only five years ago, after my husband died.

What made you choose to retire to Alton?

In Beech I had a big garden, which was my passion, but I felt I couldn’t keep it on after my husband died.

We used to open the garden for Yellow Book but I didn’t feel I could do this by myself so decided it was time for a downsize and a new start.

A few of my friends live in Alton so I chose a house near to one of them.

What do you like most about Alton?

I didn’t realise how much I would miss my garden but I am lucky to have a small garden in Alton to nurture.

Although I am not very sociable, I do appreciate the opportunities there are for older people in Alton.

I still feel quite new to Alton as much of my time here has been spent in lockdown so, perhaps, I will be better placed to answer this question in a few years!

Tell me a little bit about your favourite time in your life?

The years I spent in Africa. When I was 21, I was keen to leave home, which was unusual for a girl at the time.

Unfortunately I was too young to join the war effort, but I did have an uncle who ran a sheep farm in South Africa, so I decided to visit him. I packed a trunk and flew to Cape Town, where my uncle met me. He took me to the Karoo region, which is a vast semi-desert region, and I spent a year helping on the farm.

When my year was up, I didn’t feel ready to go home, so used every contact I had to stay in Africa.

I ventured to Johannesburg, Rhodesia (now Zimbabwe), Nyasaland (now Malawi) and Mozambique, picking up jobs to fund my travels.

When I ran out of money and contacts I travelled back to the UK by boat via the Suez Canal and got a job in London.

But I was homesick for Africa, so as soon as I earned enough money to return I applied for a job in Nigeria, and that is where I met my husband.

We lived there happily for 30 years and that is where we brought up our two boys.

What are your hopes and dreams for the future?

At my age I wouldn’t say I have hopes for the future, but I do try to live in the present and enjoy the possibility of each day.

I miss my husband dreadfully, but my sons and their families look out for me.

Having lived in Africa for so many years, I learnt to find peace in every situation, and am finding that life lesson particularly helpful now.

For further information on the Anna Chaplaincy, call Kate Powell on 07539 026546.