Articles Local author’s cat tale raises money for RNLI

Local author’s cat tale raises money for RNLI

Local author’s cat tale raises money for RNLI

Devon-based author, Sylvia Murphy hosted volunteer crew and officers of Exmouth RNLI at the book launch of her latest novel about Trinity, a life-saving, sea-faring cat. 10 per cent of the book cover price (55p per book) will be donated to the charity that saves lives at sea.

At the book launch of Trinity: the Lifeboat Cat on the evening of 15 November at the Pavilion, Sylvia signed copies of her books for the volunteers and old friends from the Exmouth sailing community. Marketing her own work, her books are available on Amazon and through national wholesalers. Sylvia has written 15 books and this is her fifth cat novel.

The story is based on a real-life feline visitor to the workmen of Trinity House buoy store in Trinity Terrace, in the seaside town. Most of the men who looked after the buoyage were also volunteer lifeboat crew and Trinity soon became the RNLI mascot. Sylvia said:

‘It’s been twenty years since I lived in Camperdown Terrace near the Trinity House buoy store and yet they all remembered both the cat and me!’

Sylvia and her late husband, David left Exmouth 20 years ago to sail around the world in their 60 year-old yacht, Nyala. They spent a number of years improving the 1933 Ketch, designed by Maurice Griffiths, ready for cruising. During this time, Sylvia wrote Keeping Nyala in Style, a story of how the boat was rescued from a boatyard in Plymouth in a less than sea-worthy state.

Sylvia was also signing and selling copies of this illustrated handbook during the evening. The 34’, 11 ton wooden yacht was last seen in the Languedoc in the south of France and has been for sale with www.eventides.org.uk.

Talking about Nyala, Sylvia says:

‘I don’t expect to be able to buy or sail her, but if anyone had 50,000 Euros to spare and wants to bring her back to Exmouth, remember – I am probably one of the few people around who knows the way!’

Sylvia and Tim Mock, Coxswain

Author: ian_taylor@rnli.org.uk