It was with great sadness that we recently learned Ann Riviere, a Hay Writers’ Circle alumni and stalwart supporter of the group had passed away.

Ann was a highly valued member for almost 2 decades and served as HWC Treasurer for many of them. In an era when the Circle sold a yearly magazine to generate funs, Ann would be out and about the town of Hay, selling magazine advertising space to many of the local businesses, (“on the streets plying her trade” as she often joked!). In her role as Treasurer she also wrote annually to Literature Wales in the hope that the group might get support, and although we never received any funding, she never gave up hoping.

Ann’s writing speciality was short stories. Her well observed people and places, dialogue and plot twists coupled with superb timing, pace and snippy interjections could only be matched by her Hay Festival performances; it was then Ann’s writing truly came alive and she delighted audiences over the years with both comic vignettes and atmospheric thrillers.

When asked where she found the ideas for her work, Anne replied that, “staring at a blank sheet of A4 and praying for inspiration usually did the trick.” Her A4 paper was always set ready for use in an aged electronic typewriter. In her mid eighties and under great duress, it was finally superseded by a laptop when failing eyesight got the better of her.

By her mid nineties, physically frail but still independent, with a mind as keen as ever, Ann enjoyed being kept up to date with all HWC news. She could often be lured down the road to former HWC Chair, Lynn Trowbridge’s House when any of the writers called. She would laugh, reminisce and generally put the world to rights!

Thank you to Emma van Woerkom for the above tribute to Ann.

Below is one of Ann’s short stories which appeared in the 2015 anthology, Pick and Mix: An assortment of new work by the Hay Writers’ Circle.

THE ANNIVERSARY
by Ann Riviere

Ursula had known for years of Robert’s infidelities. She never knew if there
were a number of women or just one. His attractive Personal Assistant was
a likely candidate. Hurtful though it was, apart from his philandering, he
was a generous, thoughtful husband and a loving, caring father. As far as
the girls were concerned, however busy he was at work, he always found
time to attend school plays, sports and parents’ days. During annual
holidays, when they were small, he was the perfect Daddy, making sand
castles, and as they grew up, driving them to and from parties and dances.
He would also sit in the freezing cold on Saturday mornings at the riding
school, watching with pride as they showed off how well they could control
their ponies.

Oh yes, she had been fortunate in her marriage, but he had spoilt it
for her. Hard as she had tried, she could not help the stabs of jealousy each
time she suspected him of being unfaithful. It would have to end. She had
thought hard and long of how and when she would tell him of her decision.
The time had to be right. Their 21st wedding anniversary was soon. Janie
was already twenty and Georgia would be nineteen in a couple of weeks and
would be off to join her sister at university. They would be two independent
young women no longer needing to be mothered.

Never having forgotten their anniversaries, Robert would certainly not
forget their 21st. He would bring home a huge bunch of peach-coloured
roses, her favourite, and then, probably, they would go out to dinner. She
would tell him then. In the meantime, she would give some thought as to
what she might do after the separation. Take a cruise to some sunny spot,
lie in the warmth and consider her options.

On the morning of the anniversary, as he left for the office, Robert said
‘As it’s such a special day, I’ve reserved seats for the Oscar Wilde play and
booked a table at The Savoy for dinner.’

Returning home on the dot of six, armed with the roses, he was
smiling happily. For a moment she wondered if she was doing the right
thing.

The Importance of Being Earnest was a favourite play and the dinner
afterwards was superb. Ursula drew her breath, but before she could say a
word, Robert took a small box from his breast pocket. Inside was a ring of
diamonds and sapphires. It was quite beautiful.

‘This is for putting up with me for all these years and for never having
reproached me about anything. Whatever you may think, I want you to
know that I love you more than I can say and pray you will never leave me.’

Ursula sat staring at him. You are good-looking, charming and clever.
Isn’t that enough? Why do you have to be so nice as well? He slipped the
ring onto her finger.

In the car on the way home, she thought as she twisted the ring
round, gazing at it. Not this year. Perhaps our next anniversary would be a
better time.