SURF MAMA

Wilma Johnson, Summersdale £8.99

Artist mother and wife Wilma Johnson was living a seemingly contented life on the west coast of Ireland when, in her mid forties , she was overwhelmed by the desire to seize the moment and move to the French resort of Biarritz to take up surfing in the Atlantic Ocean. However, Wilma’s dreams soon turned sour, with her marriage starting to suffer and her children speaking no French. Her first attempt at surfing was a disaster, leaving her with broken bones and bruises. Despite the setbacks the buzz she got from riding the first wave made her persevere and she ended up establishing the Mamas Surf Club. This story of one woman’s foray into the macho world of surfing shows how re-invention is possible at any age.