As part of National Storytelling Week (29 January – 4 February), a Hertfordshire care home resident has fulfilled a lifetime ambition to write a book.

Self-proclaimed bookworm and author, Hilmar Warenius (80) has drawn inspiration from his lockdown experiences at Foxholes Care Home, near Hitchin, to fulfil his childhood ambition. Warenius shared his sonnets as an exercise to boost positive wellbeing and mental stimulation.

The former doctor and scientist’s book of short poems, ‘Smidgens of Verse’, includes themes of love, loss and the passage of time. Reflecting on key elements of his life, including several memoirs to his late wife with whom he shared 44 years of marriage, Warenius has contributed 47 pages of poems. Stemming from his fascination with interpersonal communication, themes vary from a hymn about a hated seagull to the role of modern science and the nature of the world we find ourselves in.

Warenius arrived at the family-run home in 2021, craving a change of setting after a prolonged period of isolation during the nation’s first official lockdown. Yearning for a sense of community, he sold his house and quickly rediscovered his passion for writing in a supportive and thriving environment.

 “These short poems arose spontaneously in my mind within minutes of certain experiences,” he said. “Recently, they have been reflective lockdown-evoked poems. Others are from earlier times and particularly, a wonderful wife who transformed my life for 44 years and left a grief-filled chasm when she died.

“I hope that these short ‘smidgens’ will provide ideas and feelings to share and discuss, and maybe even trigger dreamy thoughts in the reader’s mind.”

“Hilmar is an individual who has truly lived an extraordinary and wonderful life, so we’re extremely proud to have played a part in him achieving a life-long ambition,” said Foxholes Care Home estate manager Neil Gandecha.

“Being a family-run home, it’s important to us that we help empower our residents and make them feel right at home when they join our extended family. We’re pleased our strong sense of connection and community has helped facilitate Hilmar’s incredible achievement of seeing his life’s experiences published for all to read, and we’re all just so proud of him.”

Warenius has caught the writing bug and is currently completing his memoirs. Click here to purchase ‘Smidgens of Verse’, either as a paperback copy or Kindle edition.