My companion, Celia Mason, who has died aged 86, was a trainer, probation officer and creator of novels on the English civil battle. She additionally wrote brief tales and poetry.
Whereas working as a probation officer in Birmingham within the Nineteen Eighties, Celia spent a 12 months producing an illustrated handbook designed to assist jail inmates whose heavy consuming had led to their conviction. Her analysis confirmed 75% of prisoners at Winson Inexperienced suffered with this affliction. Her handbook led to her being offered with an award by the Princess Royal on behalf of the prisons charity the Butler Belief. The quotation acknowledged: “Her endurance and dedication are of the very best order and her initiative in a big native jail will no doubt bear fruit for a few years to return.”
Being a probation officer was not with out its risks. Celia as soon as had a slender escape when one in all her purchasers tried to take management of the automotive she was driving. However, Celia wrote: “A heartening facet of my work was the realisation that there’s not essentially an instantaneous pay-off. Years move. Abruptly you might be accosted by a vaguely acquainted male face. Accompanied by his spouse and youngsters, he has taken the difficulty to cross a carpark to inform you: ‘I actually appreciated all you probably did for me.’”
Celia was born in Derby, the daughter of Jessie and Edward Kaulfuss, who have been each energetic within the Co-operative motion. Edward was blind and the household moved to Sheffield when he grew to become the primary blind scholar to review economics on the metropolis’s college. To make ends meet they took in college students from abroad. Celia went to Excessive Storrs grammar college in Sheffield, then studied English at Birmingham College earlier than coaching to be a trainer.
She switched to the probation service after shedding her job educating English and drama at Saltley Faculty, which was closed in 1978.
Celia retired from the probation service within the mid-Nineties, and I met her not lengthy afterwards by way of Guardian Soulmates. We lived in Hay-on-Wye, the place Celia revitalised the city’s arts membership, earlier than shifting to Cheltenham. In retirement she started writing, and her first novel, First Dry Rattle, was revealed in 2006, adopted by A Daring Decision (2007), Act of Revolt (2009) and others, revealed beneath her married title of Celia Boyd. Celia’s first marriage, to Alex Boyd, a trainer, had resulted in divorce, and her second husband, John Mason, a military officer, predeceased her.
She was an achieved music-hall performer and, with a small workforce of novice actors, the Silver Threads, carried out at golf equipment and care properties in and round Cheltenham. On the finish of every present, the viewers would shout: “When are you coming again?” Celia would welcome gamers to the weekly U3A bridge periods with a smile and sometimes a line from a music-hall track.
Celia’s magnetic character and love of individuals enriched my life, and he or she acted as a beautiful grandmother to my three grandchildren, Julia, Imogen and Astrid. She is survived by me, her son, Andrew, from her first marriage, and by a granddaughter, Hannah.
