Malvern priest and gardener, Anthea Elston, is publishing a book based on her 150 mile walk of self-discovery in 2019.
The walk was inspired by the death of her best friend, Marianna, from breast cancer at the age of 37 and raised a total of £5,200 for two charities.
On 1 July 2019, Anthea set out to walk a 150-mile circle, starting and finishing at All Saints, Hollybush. Sometimes accompanied by friends, sometimes alone, always with the back up support of husband Mike in the trusty Skoda, she walked via the Malvern Hills to Bromyard, Leominster, Hay-on-Wye, Monmouth, Ross-on-Wye and then back to All Saints. It turned out to be more than 150 miles, as well as a life-changing experience.Boots and Roots is the story of that walk and much more. The book follows Anthea’s voyage of discovery as she journeys through some spectacularly beautiful countryside, including ending up lying in the bottom of a ditch!
Anthea said: “This book has been written to encourage others to go for their dreams and show that it’s never too late to make a change. It’s a tale of family, friendship, faith and forging a new path for yourself, against all the odds. I found myself travelling back into my family history, discovering tragedy and hardship, but also some amazing, inspiring, strong female ancestors, who gave me a new perspective on the future.”
The launch of Boots and Roots will be held at Ledbury Books and Maps on 2 December at 5pm and at All Saints Hollybush on 3 December at 2pm. It will be supported by a social media campaign on Facebook and Instagram linked to a dedicated Boots and Roots website.
Contact Anthea to attend one of the launch events or order a copy of the book.
