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Leavenheath man authors life story to raise funds for Suffolk and Essex Small Animal Welfare




At the age of 87, Frank Payne decided it was now or never to put his life story down on paper.

Six months later, the father-of-three has authored and released two books, with a third targeted for completion by Christmas, all in the hope of raising money for a cause close to his heart.

The first book – titled Here Today, Goon Tomorrow – details Mr Payne’s early life, including surviving the Blitz, during which he and his family narrowly avoided a stray German bomb that destroyed the home they had left minutes earlier.

Suffolk & Essex Small Animal Welfare, Stoke Road, Leavenheath, Suffolk..Frank Payne has written a book about his life and war service, called ‘Here Today, Goon Tomorrow’, with proceeds going to the Suffolk & Essex Small Animal Welfare (SESAW) charity in Leavenheath. Frank with Maggie Jackaman and dogs Ruby and Renee. Picture by Mark Westley. (52343500)
Suffolk & Essex Small Animal Welfare, Stoke Road, Leavenheath, Suffolk..Frank Payne has written a book about his life and war service, called ‘Here Today, Goon Tomorrow’, with proceeds going to the Suffolk & Essex Small Animal Welfare (SESAW) charity in Leavenheath. Frank with Maggie Jackaman and dogs Ruby and Renee. Picture by Mark Westley. (52343500)

Published in July, the account also tells the tale of his national service in the Royal Air Force.

This leads into the second book, Well Worth Waiting For, released this month, which chronicles his departure from the air force up to the present day.

Mr Payne confirmed that every pound from the sales of his books would be donated to Suffolk and Essex Small Animal Welfare (Sesaw), an independent animal rescue and rehoming charity based in Leavenheath.

Suffolk & Essex Small Animal Welfare, Stoke Road, Leavenheath, Suffolk..Frank Payne has written a book about his life and war service, called ‘Here Today, Goon Tomorrow’, with proceeds going to the Suffolk & Essex Small Animal Welfare (SESAW) charity in Leavenheath. Frank with Maggie Jackaman and dogs Ruby and Renee. Picture by Mark Westley. (52343498)
Suffolk & Essex Small Animal Welfare, Stoke Road, Leavenheath, Suffolk..Frank Payne has written a book about his life and war service, called ‘Here Today, Goon Tomorrow’, with proceeds going to the Suffolk & Essex Small Animal Welfare (SESAW) charity in Leavenheath. Frank with Maggie Jackaman and dogs Ruby and Renee. Picture by Mark Westley. (52343498)

Since moving close to the sanctuary in Stoke Road nine years ago, his family has become heavily involved in support the charity’s work.

“All of our family has always been crackers about animals,” Mr Payne told Suffolk News. “Primarily, we have a great love of dogs.

“In the time me and my wife have been married since 1958, we have rescued and kept 15 dogs. When we lived in Essex, we had two acres of land and kept a lot of animals.

Suffolk & Essex Small Animal Welfare, Stoke Road, Leavenheath, Suffolk..Frank Payne has written a book about his life and war service, called ‘Here Today, Goon Tomorrow’, with proceeds going to the Suffolk & Essex Small Animal Welfare (SESAW) charity in Leavenheath. Frank with Maggie Jackaman and dogs Ruby and Renee. Picture by Mark Westley. (52343499)
Suffolk & Essex Small Animal Welfare, Stoke Road, Leavenheath, Suffolk..Frank Payne has written a book about his life and war service, called ‘Here Today, Goon Tomorrow’, with proceeds going to the Suffolk & Essex Small Animal Welfare (SESAW) charity in Leavenheath. Frank with Maggie Jackaman and dogs Ruby and Renee. Picture by Mark Westley. (52343499)

“When we moved here, we were very close to the sanctuary. My wife, daughter and grandchildren all physically help with Sesaw’s animal welfare.”

In addition to the two titles released so far, Mr Payne, who has persevered through three separate bouts with cancer, is also working on a third book, called It All Kicks Off On Sunday.

This book, which he intends to finish before the end of the year, is about his 40 years as a junior football team manager, coach and qualified referee, including various battles with players, managers, parents and supporters.

He explained that the Covid-19 crisis had given him the time he never had to author his life story, and that the pandemic’s impact on small charities like Sesaw had pushed him to donate the book sale proceeds to them.

“Their needs are far greater than mine,” added Mr Payne, who is also a member of a male voice choir that has twice performed at the Royal Albert Hall, in 2014 and 2016.

“At 87, my time is running out. I’ve fought battles with prostate cancer, bladder cancer and now the last vestige of skin cancer.

“I pray each of my books do well, that I’m given time to finish It All Kicks Off On Sunday, for Sesaw and those they help – those unable to help themselves.”

The first two books – Here Today, Goon Tomorrow and Well Worth Waiting For – are available for purchase at £5 each.

To order a copy, you can send an email to Mr Payne directly at cahors@live.co.uk.

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