A woman born in Kingston and fostered until the age of 10 has produced an autobiography of her experiences living in the borough compiled from meticulously kept diaries.

Iris Saxon from Chessington gave in to the requests from friends to “write it down”, and after a year working on the project her autobiography was published in January.

The book’s title is a play on her maiden name of Noble – My Noble Beginnings.

The 77-year-old, who lives in Tudor Close, said: “I’ve had rather an interesting life and people over the years said to me ‘you ought to write it down’.”

She has watched Kingston change dramatically over the years she has lived in the borough.

Mrs Saxon said: “I am born and bred in Kingston and much of my book details the many businesses that employed Kingston people and have now all gone by the wayside.

“Everything has gone, everything has transformed. The Government took away our county status. Now we are just part of the urban sprawl.

“Cllr Margaret Thompson came round to talk to me because I got so angry about what they are trying to do to Chessington Golf Club. I think it’s the most ridiculous thing I’ve heard.”

Of her own life she said: “At nine months old I was fostered in Merton.

“I lived with them until I was 10.

“Then they asked my parents for more money as they needed to buy a school uniform and they [her parents] refused to give them any extra money so they [her parents] came one night and took me away in the night.”

Mrs Saxon has previously published a book of poetry titled A Woman’s Reflections in Poetry, but thought her second publication should tell the tale of her life.

The book details everything from birth onwards, her memories of being fostered and discovering she had family that she never knew she had.

Mrs Saxon said: “I was 42 when I was working at Smith Industries Aviation on the A3, coming back from lunch one day and the reception called up for me and said there’s a gentleman in reception to see you.

“I went down to see him and he got up and put out his hands and said I’m your brother.”

Mrs Saxon is an avid reader and gardener.

She has been a chef, worked in electronics and belongs to the Women’s Institute.

My Noble Beginnings is published by Olympia Publishers and can be found on Amazon for £15.99.