I was very moved to see Pon My Puff, my late father Peter Stark Lansley’s childhood memoir, featured in the Basingstoke Gazette. This book was originally written in the 1950s but remained unpublished for over 60 years, until it finally found its way into print. When the previous publisher ceased trading earlier this year, the book went out of print, and I felt determined to find a way to keep my father’s story alive. 

Pon My Puff takes readers back to the 1920s Isle of Wight, where my father grew up with his grandparents. Through his words, we see village life in all its colour and richness — festive Stir Up Sundays, childhood adventures with his friend Victoria, and tender reflections on faith and family. It is a charming, nostalgic portrait of a world that has long since passed, yet still holds lessons and warmth for today. 

My father spent much of his life working at sea and later in aviation, but writing was always his passion. Preserving this memoir has been both a personal tribute and a way of sharing local heritage with future generations. I am grateful to everyone who has supported the continuation of Pon My Puff, ensuring that his voice and memories remain alive.