A North Devon author with a lifelong passion for writing has raised valuable funds for Children's Hospice South West (CHSW) through sales of her latest book, with all proceeds donated to support babies, children and young people with life-limiting conditions and their families.
Moira Brewer, 76, from Great Torrington, recently visited Little Bridge House with her husband, Bob, to present a cheque raised through sales of her book Torrington and its History: Articles from The Crier 2015-2025.
The book brings together 100 historical articles written by Moira over a decade for Torrington's Crier magazine and is the latest in a long line of publications from the self-published author, whose writing career spans both fiction and non-fiction.
Moira has supported CHSW for many years and chose to donate proceeds from her latest publication because of her admiration for the charity's work and the difference it makes to families facing the most difficult of circumstances.
Speaking about her support for CHSW, Moira said:
I have sent money to the Children's Hospice for a number of years to help the wonderful work they do. Having had two children of my own, I can't imagine what parents have to go through when their children are seriously ill, but I can understand how grateful and relieved they must be to have the provision of respite care and the help and advice provided by the hospice.
Moira's connection to CHSW dates back to the 1990s when she attended a talk by CHSW co-founder Jill Farwell at The Plough Arts Centre in Great Torrington. She said: "I first heard about the Children's Hospice in the 1990s when I went to hear Jill Farwell speak about the hopes and plans she and her husband, Eddie, had of setting up a children's hospice to provide help for their own two terminally ill children and many others needing specialist care. She had a bright, friendly smile and was an inspirational speaker, and we know how she and her husband devoted their lives to the creation and maintaining of the three South West hospices."
Moira and Bob have lived in Great Torrington for many years and have two children, Hannah and Daniel. Their son Daniel raised around £1,600 for CHSW running the 2025 London Marathon.
A keen reader and writer, Moira reads around 60 to 70 books each year and has kept a daily diary since 1961. Her first novel, Torrington Burning, won the Writers' News Magazine Self-Publishing Award for Fiction in 1996, and she has since written eight books, including historical novels, local history publications and works inspired by her own family history.
Copies of Moira's latest book have been sold locally through Duffy's Home Hardware, Torrington Jewellers, Collectability and Torrington Library, all of whom kindly agreed to support the fundraising effort.
Poppy Harrop, Area Fundraiser for CHSW, was delighted to meet Moira and Bob at Little Bridge House recently. Poppy said:
It was such a pleasure to meet Moira and Bob and accept this wonderful donation on behalf of Children's Hospice South West. We are incredibly grateful to Moira for choosing to support CHSW through her writing. The money raised will help us continue providing vital care, support and hospice services for babies, children and young people with life-limiting conditions, as well as their families. Every donation makes a real difference, and we're so thankful to Moira, Bob and everyone who has supported this fundraising effort by purchasing one of Moira's books.
As a thank you for their support, Moira and Bob have been invited to return to Little Bridge House for a tour of the hospice, where they will be able to see first-hand how the funds they have raised help support families across the South West.