WEST HAM FOOTBALL CLUB AGAIN IN THE NEWS

BARKING & DAGENHAM FROM OLD PHOTOGRAPHS (published by Amberley of Stroud)
credit Clive Simpson


This, my latest and tenth book, is proving of interest to many readers worldwide who have a connection with the London Borough of Barking and Dagenham, not least because of its sporting content. Always in the news is our lovely West Ham team and how delighted I was to come across a specialist shop at Lakeside yesterday selling the club's unmistakeable claret and blue kit in all its glory. Although the above photograph is over forty years, readers - many expats -  have made contact to say how pleased they have been to do a 'recognize the player test' and found themselves correct. 

 See if you can spot those who made British sporting history in the winning 1966 FIFA World Cup Final  

The West Ham team in 1972
 
Back: John McDowell, Paul Heffer, Bobby Ferguson, Peter Grotier, Trevor Brooking, Frank Lampard
Middle :Billy Bonds, Dave Llewelyn, Tommy Taylor, Alan Stephenson, Bobby Moore, Peter Eustace.
Front: John Ayris, Harry Redknapp, Ron Boyce, Geoff Hurst, Bryan Robson and Bobby Howe
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An added bonus shows two friends linked to my home town of Billericay, now the Venerable Archdeacon of West Ham Elwin Cockett and our Town Crier Jim Shrubb (note Elwin's gorgeous claret and blue robe)

 

THOSE WILD CATS - TWO WEEKS LATER

Elliott's wild cat family - the kittens' eyes are now open. Aren't they gorgeous? Mum looks so relaxed and rather proud of her little brood!  These are all feral, by the way.  

Many thanks for so many super comments and emails - obviously you are feline fanciers.

STILL WALKING ON THE WILD SIDE - SOWING HARDY ANNUALS (WITH CHELSEA FLOWER SHOW IN MIND)

That one day of sun was enough to set me off preparing seedbeds and trays with wild flower seed (among other delectations).  Lots of work to do in the garden with the Chelsea Flower Show on the horizon. It all kicks off in London on Monday 18 May and what an event this is going to be this year! Bigger and better, so I understand and for many of us, this is the pinnacle of our gardening year. Can't wait!

PICTURES FROM THE 'WILD SIDE'

The gardens at the Cater Museum in Billericay played host to a bevy of wild creatures on Saturday.  Little ladybirds with lovely names such as Poppy and Daisy made clever masks and others learnt how to create their own 'critters' via the ancient art of French knitting.

Lots of fun and a chance to learn some almost forgotten handicrafts. Loved James and Sheila Rushbrook, supersonic Oregon Cottage bee-keepers, the Mayflower Morrismen, Mrs A of the  Essex Badger Protection Group  and, of course, those experts in wildlife,  members of the Norsey Wood Society.

 

WE'RE ALL GOING WILD TODAY IN BILLERICAY'S CATER MUSEUM - COME JOIN US

A FORAY INTO THE ROMANTIC NOVEL

With such an all-absorbing interest in historical research and writing, I rarely have time to read anything other than those topics, but was pleased to be sent this attached novel by my new friend ADRIENNE VAUGHAN whom I met at the Society of Writers & Journalists' celebratory lunch in London last year. Maybe I was pleased to read the book because its protagonist Marianne Coltrane is a feisty award-winning journalist and not some soppy half-baked simpering heroine looking for love.

I enjoyed Adrienne's cast of colourful characters, within her fast moving, believable storyline set in the newspaper world.
Yes, a good read!  Adrienne is Editor  of 'RomanceMatters:romanticnovelistsassociation.org

Adrienne Vaughan (left) and my sister, Eve Gladstone, poet

The Hollow Heart is Adrienne's debut novel and I am now following her  @adrienneauthor.  Expect she has a website, too, and as soon as I tie up current work, will do some shadowing.  Still not primarily a fan of romantic tales, this one was so absorbing, fast moving, couldn't put it down.  

RETURN VISIT TO PHOENIX 98FM TODAY ROS GREEN IN THE RADIO GUEST CHAIR

Lots of action yesterday with our monthly BOOK CLUB programme at Brentwood's Phoenix 98fm studio. Michelle Ward is our usual presenter on Eat My Brunch, the morning show, but yesterday Nick Field was our host.  We chatted about the literary side of Brentwood, Billericay and of course, the last day of the  famous Essex Book Festival.   Its Director, the  super Ros Green joined us in the studio and we learnt much about how the Festival is planned, how the creative folk are chosen and how the team works hard to satisfy so many readers and writers.

 http://www.phoenixfm.com/2015/04/05/eat-my-brunch-talking-essex-book-festival-with-sylvia-kent-and-ros-green/ 

 

Will soon have some of yesterday's photos to add to the blog, but here is a pic of Ros Green on the  very last event of this great Festival which was held last nigt at Billericay Library.  Our star of the evening was novelist Ben Fergusson who presented his best selling debut novel The Spring of Kasper Meier to a packed audience. Publisher Little Brown/Abacus