Cardiff, July 2025 – This month, to mark what would have been Eileen Younghusband’s 104th birthday, Candy Jar Books is proud to announce the publication of Not an Ordinary Life, the complete and previously unpublished memoir of one of Britain’s most extraordinary women. The release marks both the fifteenth anniversary of Candy Jar Books and the original publication of Eileen’s award-winning memoir, One Woman’s War.

Eileen Younghusband (1921–2016) lived by the motto, “No problems, only solutions,” a philosophy that saw her tackle wartime adversity, later-life challenges, and societal barriers with unyielding strength. At just nineteen, she joined the Women’s Auxiliary Air Force (WAAF) and was soon assigned to RAF Fighter Command’s top-secret Filter Room.

Her sharp intellect and mathematical prowess quickly became apparent, and she played a vital role in Fighter Command’s underground operations. Working exhausting shifts under immense pressure, Eileen and her colleagues tracked enemy aircraft that threatened Britain’s resolve. She even had the dubious distinction of detecting the first of Hitler’s devastating V2 rockets as it fell on an unsuspecting London.

Her wartime memoir, One Woman’s War, garnered widespread acclaim, earning praise from iconic figures such as Dame Vera Lynn, Jed Mercurio (Line of Duty), Robert Towne (Chinatown), and Emma Soames, Winston Churchill’s granddaughter. The book won The People’s Book Prize, and Eileen was featured in five documentaries. It even inspired the bestselling novel V2 by Robert Harris.

In tribute to Eileen’s remarkable life, Robert Harris has written a heartfelt introduction, reflecting: “It is not often that one can say for certain when the idea for a novel enters one’s mind, but in the case of V2, I can pinpoint it exactly: Monday 5 September 2016, when The Times carried an obituary of Eileen Younghusband. I find her life story engrossing and moving in equal measure, and I shall always be grateful to her for not only inspiring my novel, but for all that she and her colleagues did to help Great Britain survive and eventually win the war.”

While One Woman’s War captured her wartime heroism, Not an Ordinary Life reveals the full breadth of Eileen’s remarkable journey. This new memoir spans her early years as an au pair in pre-war France, her post-war ventures as a successful businesswoman, her passionate campaigning for health reform, and her extraordinary achievement of earning a university degree at the age of eighty-eight. In her later years, she became a beloved television and radio personality, showing that her vibrant spirit never slowed down.

Throughout her life, Eileen befriended some of the most influential figures of her time, many of whom were men, including Winston Churchill, Dylan Thomas, Rex Harrison, Dudley Moore, Edward Heath, John Barrowman, Freddie Laker, Carwyn Jones, Maurice Sendak, and Robert Towne.

This memoir also features previously unseen photographs from Eileen’s private collection, offering a personal and intimate glimpse into the life of this extraordinary woman.

“I never had the chance to meet Eileen, but I feel as though I know her well from my time working at Candy Jar,” says Keren Williams, Head of Marketing. “Candy Jar has kept Eileen’s story alive, paying tribute to her legacy by incorporating her history into various Doctor Who spin-off novels. I always knew she was an incredible woman, but reading Not an Ordinary Life has shown me just how exceptional she truly was.”

Shaun Russell, Head of Publishing at Candy Jar Books, adds: “Eileen’s motto, ‘No problems, only solutions,’ has become a guiding principle here at Candy Jar. We are immensely proud to publish her complete memoir on our fifteenth anniversary – a fitting tribute to her inspiring life and to the power of stories that need to be heard.”

Not an Ordinary Life is more than just a memoir – it is a powerful celebration of resilience, intellect, and purpose. The book will be distributed across the UK by the Books Council of Wales, ensuring that Eileen Younghusband’s voice, like her legacy, continues to inspire generations to come.