What is your earliest memory?
A car journey when I was four years old. I grew up in Orpington, Kent, and our family were driving back home after a visit to pedigree poodle breeding kennels near Tunbridge Wells. We had bought a miniature poodle pup.
We called him “Kimmings”. He was officially a silver poodle, but when very young he was black. I have a vivid memory of sitting behind the front passenger seat craning my neck in excitement to look at my mother in front, with this tiny bundle of black wool on her lap – our new puppy. I was fascinated by him and couldn’t take my eyes off him.
Any other outstanding memories?
Yes, Kimmings went on to live for fifteen years as our much-loved family pet. He was an eccentric character. In fact, he was a Poodle with Attitude. He gave us many years of fun and amusement and shock (including the occasion when he chased the deer herd at Knole Park, Sevenoaks, and nearly got shot).
My mother, Gladys L Skillman, (nee Pastorelli) who was a talented artist, made a model of Kimmings, and I have it today. Here it is:
My mother also painted and drew pictures. Here is one she created, showing Kimmings asleep, which hangs on my wall today:
On one occasion I rescued him from three foot high snow in our local park. On another occasion I practically snatched him out of the jaws of a slavering, snarling Alsation dog, not being properly controlled by his owner. He came on every holiday with us. I have video footage of him:
barking at shadows;
displaying his tea-stained whiskers (he loved to lap up tea from saucers when we served tea out in the garden);
lying exhausted at the top of Snowdon in North Wales;
and standing with his head out of an open car window, enjoying the feeling of his long ears streaming in the wind.
Sad memories – trigger warning for pet lovers!
He was put to sleep by the vet when I was nineteen years old – which is of course, pretty good going for a small dog like a miniature poodle. It didn’t feel like it at the time. I felt as if the bottom had dropped out of my world. Why can’t dogs live for eighty years???
Kimmings had cataracts in both eyes and kidney failure. I was told of his death by my father Ken during the lunch break, where we sat together at the dining table in the family flat above A.D Skillman & Sons, the family business at 108 Woolwich High Street. My mother had taken the decision to carry Kimmings to the vet, to be put to sleep. She felt it was better that way – to make the decision rather than discuss with us all.
So while we had lunch together in the flat above 108 Woolwich High Street, Dad told me that Mum had just rung to give him the sad news – she had taken Kimmings to the vet to be put to sleep.
I was eating at the time, and then I knew what it means for food to “turn to ashes” in your mouth.
Later, I wrote an In Memoriam for Kimmings (which I still have amongst my juvenilia).
NO CATS HERE!!
I also refused to allow his bed to be used by our cat Sukie, and insisted that it be destroyed instead, because it belonged to Kimmings and we would be betraying him if we allowed any other animal to use it.
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Hello! My name’s Sheila and I write under the pen name of SC Skillman. I live in Warwick with my husband and son, and my daughter currently lives and works in Australia.
I was born and brought up in Orpington, Kent, and have loved writing most of my life. I studied English Literature at Lancaster University, and my first permanent job was as a production secretary with the BBC. Later I lived for nearly five years in Australia before returning to live and work in the UK.
My output includes psychological, paranormal and mystery fiction, and historical and paranormal nonfiction. Each of my nonfiction books is illustrated by 100 original full colour photos, mostly taken by myself, and others by my son and daughter (both talented photographers!)
In March 2023 I was the Nonfiction Adjudicator at the Scottish Association of Writers Annual Conference in Glasgow. I’m a member of the Society of Authors and the Association of Christian Writers.
My nonfiction books on Warwickshire are published by Amberley and include Paranormal Warwickshire, Illustrated Tales of Warwickshire and A-Z of Warwick. I’m now researching a fourth book for Amberley: Paranormal Gloucestershire. I also have a new light gothic horror novel in progress.
In addition to my published books, I blog weekly on scskillman.com about books and films I love, people and places of inspiration, life, spirituality, history and travel.
I’m also a public speaker and have spoken to many groups and organisations about Paranormal Warwickshire, Illustrated Tales of Warwickshire, the quirky tales of Warwick, the art of writing nonfiction, and the power of story. Do get in touch with me if you’d like a speaker for your group!
scskillman.com 