A little encouragement goes a long way and in the case of Helen McGrandles has inspired her back to writing after personal circumstances forced a lull in her work’.

A great admirer of the work of James Hilton, Helen who lives on the Isle of Bute, joined the James Hilton Society even though she was unable to attend all of the meetings.

‘Joining the club has been a wonderful experience for me,’ she says, ‘and I kept in touch through the quarterly magazine The Hiltonian.’

Two years ago she entered a short story competition involving his writing and although she did not win, her story was printed in this year’s magazine.

‘This event has been a great lift for me as it has been a year full of sadness,’ she says, adding: ‘I know I will get back to my jottings again.’