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Wootton Village Hall talks

Soon after I opened The Woodstock Bookshop Andy Morgan appeared in the shop, wanting to discuss an idea he'd had for raising money for Wootton village hall. People might be interested in talks, he thought. I thought so, too, and it seems we were right as the talks have almost always sold out. Andy has succeeded in attracting extraordinary speakers to Wootton and the talks have the most wonderful, friendly atmosphere. There is a bar; sandwiches and delicious bits and pieces appropriate to the talk are served afterwards (I am sure whoever provides the food will rise to the challenge of a Prue Leith inspired evening!). I will be selling books at some of the talks - this is what the next few months have in store:

Friday 19 March, OLIVER JAMES, leading clinical psychologist. He has called his talk 'Affluenza - Did Thatcherism Drive Us Bonkers?' It is based on his best-selling books examining the theory that people are much wealthier than 50 years ago, but pressures to keep up have now led to the UK having some of the highest levels of stress and mental health problems in western Europe.

Friday 9 April, PRUE LEITH, fabulous cook, restaurateur, food writer and novelist. She was Businesswoman of the Year in 1990 and more recently has been very active in the School Food Trust. She is publishing her latest novel Serving of Scandal in March. Prue, who recently celebrated her 70th birthday, has called her talk 'Retirement - What Retirement?' If any of you came to her talk here last year (when Choral Society was published) you will know what a brilliant speaker she is.

Friday 7 May 7, GERRY ANDERSON, legendary creator of iconic marionette shows such as Thunderbirds, Fireball XLV and Captain Scarlett. A professional puppeteer will demonstrate how the marionettes were used.

All talks start at 7.30pm and entry costs £6 for everybody.
The easiest way is book is through the website http://www.woottontalks.co.uk/.
Posted by Rachel at 14:44 No comments: Labels: village talks


Beautiful for Ever This is the cover of the new book Helen Rappaport is coming to talk about on Monday 8th March at 7.30pm. I can't wait to see copies - it looks very enticing and will, I am sure, be fascinating. I hope the snow snows somewhere else (recurring theme this year) and that the talk is able to go ahead as planned.

Posted by Rachel at 12:42 No comments: Labels: Helen Rappaport


Letters from the Front Pictured are John Ledingham, left, and Arthur Stockwin, following last night's talk at the Methodist Church.
Arthur brought along the letters he found after his mother's death, still in the Fuller's box where she kept them. He also brought family photographs and a long photograph of part of the Front. Hearing some of the letters it was hard to believe they were written almost a hundred years ago - they are so fresh and the relationship that develops between the young couple is so vivid.
John somehow managed to reduce over 250 pages of letters to a twenty-minute summary, quoting brief extracts as illustration. The book itself represents only about a quarter of the letters between Gerard Garvin and his parents. I can't think when I have read a more moving collection of letters. They give a fascinating picture of life in England during the war: Gerard's mother kept him supplied with food and clothes - he sent his washing home weekly and in one of his final letters he says, '...can you send me some Tiptree, or some of Beach's Farm, which I'm told is as good, and a folding knife, fork and spoon. Please don't send many sweets because I don't eat them much now.' The letters from his parents survive because Gerard packed them up and sent them all home just before he died. He also wrote a final letter of farewell shortly before the final battle. His reading list while at the front is extraordinary - Moliere, Shakespeare, Wordsworth, Thucydides - a full list is at the end of the book. He was clearly a very clever and very well educated boy. A year after his son's death, J L Garvin visited the Somme and saw where Gerard had been killed. Afterwards he wrote about the battlefield in the Observer (he was the editor): 'Here are poppies, deep cornflower, wild mustard, thyme and the rest...The spirit of earth is weaving patterns of bright wonders and robing our dead as kings.'
I am so glad we were able to rearrange this talk and very grateful to John and Arthur.
Posted by Rachel at 10:57 No comments: