Dog days

A frequent flyer, she is a part-time instructor for glider pilots at Shenington Glider Club near Banbury, and has clocked up more than 3,000 hours flying solo.

With such a busy schedule, it’s hard to see how the pensioner found the time to write her latest book, Major The Oxford Dog, which is published next month.

But the 76-year-old widow, who lives in Marston, found the wire-haired dachsund so inspirational she was moved to put pen to paper under her maiden name, Mary Stokes White.

The story is told from Major’s point of view, which makes the tale accessible for children, and there are charming illustrations from graphic designer Jake Tebbit, who used to illustrate a number of the BBC Jackanory programmes.

The book is dedicated to Henry, Mary’s husband, who died three years ago aged 75 following a stomach operation, and there is a touching chapter entitled The Funeral, which recalls one of the saddest days of the author’s life – from a canine’s point of view.

Mary met Henry, her second husband, at The Trout in Wolvercote, after placing a small ad in The Times 10 years ago.

“We just clicked and went on from there, and I would sneak Major into the hospital to visit Henry when he was ill," Mary told The Guide.

“Major has been such a comfort to me and a source of adventures that I felt compelled to write a story about him.”

Twenty-five years ago, Mary’s first book, The Adventures of a Half-Baked, Chicken-hearted Granny Glider Pilot, was published and sold 2,000 copies. A similar number of copies of Major The Oxford Dog have been printed by the Ava Book Company, and the author hopes they too will sell out.

Blackwell’s in Broad Street has agreed to stock copies, and Mary and Major will be appearing for a signing session at WH Smith in Cornmarket Street, on October 3, from 10am to 4pm.

“We have created a rubber stamp of Major’s paw print because if we actually used Major’s paw for the signing there would be inky marks all over the shop floor,” the American-born author joked.

“The success of Marley and Me by John Grogan has shown that readers really enjoy stories about people and their pets and I hope people in Oxford enjoy this story.

“Major was born in Wales so I sent some copies off to the Welsh Books Council but unfortunately they said I had got some of the Welsh language wrong – I hope I didn’t upset them too much.”

It’s hard to believe there will be too many nations alienated by the whimsical charm of Mary’s latest work. Major The Oxford Dog is published by Ava Books and is also available via Amazon.