Solopress has printed a new 60-page perfect bound poetry collection by 102-year-old RAF veteran and former Spitfire pilot Eddie Habberley.
Solopress has had the honour of printing The Way That Life Goes On, a collection of poetry by 102-year-old RAF veteran Eddie Habberley. Produced as a 60-page, square-format perfect bound book with a matt laminated cover, the publication gives the thoughtful and deeply personal work a fitting presentation.
The collection spans a century of reflection, featuring 36 poems arranged into five themes: Pilot, Love, Loss, Nature, and Between the Lines. Written over many years, the poems explore Eddie’s experiences in war and peacetime, his lifelong love for his late wife Peggy, and his fascination with flight, philosophy, and the natural world.
During the Second World War, Habberley served as a fighter pilot flying Spitfire aircraft. He travelled to America to train for his ‘Wings’ before his service journeys took him to Egypt, India, Burma, and finally Hong Kong. A chance encounter with a fellow serviceman who sadly did not survive the conflict inspired him to start writing poetry after the war. The first section of the book captures the exhilaration and peril of flying, while later poems trace love, loss, and the quiet moments that give life meaning.
His connection to aviation continued throughout his life. In 2022, at the age of 99, he took the controls of a Spitfire once again during a commemorative flight from Biggin Hill, almost eight decades after his wartime service.
Commenting on the publication of his poetry, Habberley said: “It is a great experience for me to get my work published, something I never expected. I am excited to see the first book.”
The collection stands as both a creative milestone and a testament to the resilience and optimism that have defined his remarkable life.
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