Book Review: Heather For Your Luck My Dear ‘soul-soothing’ says Stacey Hodgkins

A thumbs up from our reviewer Stacey Hodgkins for Heather For Your Luck My Dear – a collection of poetry and prose about Dorset Romany history by Ray Wills 

With the title Heather For Your Luck My Dear, Romany author and poet Ray Wills draws you into the book from the start. This immediately brought back one of my childhood memories of seeing women from the community selling it in my hometown . 

Set in Dorset, this book provides a factual and historical account of Gypsy and Traveller life, taking you on a journey through times gone by into the present day. The book captivated my interest from the beginning. Ray Wills sets the scene with introductory poems taking you back to the past especially with his poem The Way of Life. This leads nicely into a brief history of the authors family, ancestors, description of accommodation and trades within his own personal family experiences. 

 I really like how after the introductory pages the journey continues, and you become immersed in each chapter. Each brings with it Gypsy and Traveller history to life through a poem at start to set the scene. This is followed by a balance of photographs, history of encampments, families who settled or travelled through, Romany trades and traditions as well as a complete history of Gypsy and Traveller presence within Dorset.

I had no previous knowledge of Dorset and the history before I read this wonderful book. Ray Wills has written this in a way that your attention is captured from the beginning, and I came to feel part of the content and people’s stories.

As I was reading, I could imagine the families living on encampments, making the bricks and being part of Dorset and the surrounding areas. I became immersed in the stories being told through poetry with my favourite ones being The Way of Life, Vardo Days and Bender Days amongst others.

It has been a great pleasure to be able to review this unique and soul-soothing book. I highly recommend to anyone whether you have lived in this area, surrounding areas or not anywhere nearby. You will feel as though you have been on the journey with the author and others in this book.

By Stacey Hodgkins

All of Ray Wills’ books can be purchased through Amazon: Amazon.co.uk: Ray Wills: books, biography, latest update