102 and still flying high: Eddie unboxes his debut book

At 102 years old, RAF veteran and Spitfire pilot Eddie Habberley has achieved a remarkable milestone with the publication of his first poetry collection, The Way That Life Goes On.

In the video below, Eddie talks about how he began writing, the experiences that shaped his poems, and the moment he opened his printed book for the first time.

A life in flight and verse

Eddie served with the Royal Air Force, flying Spitfires during the Second World War. He trained in Cornwall and the United States before joining operational squadrons overseas. In 1945, he survived a crash in Burma and spent VE Day recovering in hospital in India.

After the war, Eddie recalled a conversation with a fellow serviceman who had encouraged him to write poetry. That conversation stayed with him, and over time he began to write about flying, his marriage to his late wife Peggy, and the events and emotions that have filled his life.

The Way That Life Goes On brings together 36 poems across 60 pages, arranged into five sections: Pilot, Love, Loss, Nature and Between the Lines. The collection reflects both his service years and his long life after the war.

From manuscript to masterpiece

Eddie’s enthusiasm for aviation endured. In 2022, aged 99, he returned to Biggin Hill, where he took the controls of a Spitfire during a commemorative flight. That same year, he began preparing his poems for publication.

When his finished books arrived from Solopress, Eddie described it as “a great experience” and said, “I never expected to get my work published. I am excited to see the first book.”

The Way That Life Goes On has been printed by Solopress as a 60-page, square-format Perfect Bound book with a matt laminated cover. The result is a well-crafted and durable edition that reflects the quality and attention to detail applied to every order.

A story worth sharing

Eddie lives independently in Northampton and remains active in his local community. His poetry provides a personal account of a century marked by service, change and creativity.

Solopress is proud to have supported the production of his collection, helping to turn his writing into a finished book. If you’re ready to turn your writing into print, Perfect Bound Books from Solopress make it simple to create a professional paperback. For practical guidance on ISBNs, legal deposit and more, read our Ultimate Guide to Self-Publishing.