EXCITING NEWS FOR JANE AUSTEN LOVERS - CHAWTON HOUSE VISIT ARRANGED FOR AUTUMN 2021

 

Chawton House in rural Hampshire is a very 

special place

Internationally respected research and learning centre for the study of early women’s writing from 1600 to 1830. House and grounds, formerly the home of Jane Austen’s brother, open to the public. Now forging ongoing links with our great Society of Women Writers and Journalists.

Chawton was not only the the home of Jane Austen’s brother, now open to the public as a visitor attraction, but is also renowned as a centre for early women’s writing. It is where the SWWJ keeps its collection of silver cups and trophies, many of which are presented each year to our competition winners and then returned to their permanent home in Chawton’s display cabinet. Our recent group visit was a wonderful occasion. 

A guided tour of the old Elizabethan manor house, including the magnificent library packed with old books by female authors, was followed by a lovely lunch in the courtyard and a wander around the glorious grounds and gardens.We have plans to work more closely with Chawton in the future as it extends its programme of talks, panels and events, and hope to soon be able to display our leaflets and membership forms in the foyer. If you have not been to Chawton, or to visit Jane Austen’s own much smaller home in the adjacent village, put them on your list! www.swwj.co.uk

FANTASTIC NEWS - OUR ESSEX BOOK FESTIVAL BOX OFFICE IS GOING LIVE ON THURSDAY 29 APRIL

 

Essex Book Festival is back with a bang!

This week - on Thursday 29 April - our long awaited 2021 Essex Book Festival Box Office will be going live. Here you’ll be able to purchase tickets for our 13 amazing library events happening throughout July and August. The 13 authors who will be leading an event will be; Patrick Vernon, Liz Trenow, Tammye Huf, Monique Roffey, James Canton, Chris Penhall, Claire Fuller, Sally Gardner and her daughter, Naomi Ishiguro, David Omand, Abigail Dean, AK Blakemore and Elizabeth Haynes. To find out more about these incredible authors, check out our Facebook page where we’ve been posting author spotlights in the lead up to the box office opening. As well as this, keep an eye out for all the other fantastic events the festival will be putting on. Visit the Essex Book Festival website to find out more and get your tickets.

ST GEORGE'S DAY CELEBRATIONS AROUND THE WORLD

 ST GEORGE'S DAY CELEBRATIONS TODAY 

It’s that time of the year again - April 23rd, a day of celebration, but in this time of Covid, England’s celebration will be somewhat virtual.

We all know that William Shakespeare - arguably England’s most famous writer - was believed to have been born on 23rd April 1564, sadly dying on his birthday in 1616. The 23rd is also our national patronal day of St George. 

St George's Day in celebrated in many countries around the globe including the old kingdoms of the Crown of Aragon in Spain, Portugal, Georgia, Serbia, Bulgaria, Bosnia and Herzegovina and the Republic of Macedonia; also the cities of Moscow, Genova, Ljublijana in Slovenia, and many others around the world. The Palestiniians refer to the Feast of St George and it is celebrated in the Monastery of St George in al-Khader near Bethlehem. It is also known as Georgemas.

The worldwide Scout movement has been celebrating St. George's Day from its inception and he is also regarded as the patron saint of other organizations. So who was St George? Well - the scholars tell us that he was a martyr who died on 23 April 303 whilst defending Christianity at Lydda in Palestine. During the 12th century Crusades, visions of St George were reported as predictions of victory which led to his adoption as the patron saint of chivalry. In 1344 he was chosen as patron of the Order of the Garter and by the 15th century he was accepted as England’s patron saint.

 

Our Essex Mumming and Morris Dancers act out the legend of St George who fights and kills a dragon to save the life of a princess (and to secure the conversion to Christianity of her father’s subjects) and like other dragon legends before and since, it is an allegory of the triumph of good over evil. Whether from secular or saintly perspective, flags now decorate pubs and buildings and the Royal Society of St George – will probably celebrate (virtually) this special time of year. 

AFTERMATH - PRINCE PHILIP'S FUNERAL

 

So much has been written about Windsor Castle and Prince Philip's poignant funeral on Saturday last - a very emotional day for Her Majesty and family, and millions of others watching television. I was particularly looking out for my favourite photographer Arthur Edwards among the throng of snappers, but couldn't see him. Arthur is almost a neighbour and a kind chap who has spoken about his own fascinating life and times at some of my writerly functions in past years. 

Later, I learnt that Arthur had been there (for over three hours)  hidden in a fake pillar outside St George's Chapel taking many royal close-ups, in his special style - our Arthur is always the professional! Also, amazingly, was the news that Prince Philip had wanted his friend Arthur to be present at his funeral when the plans were originally proposed. 

Here is my pic of Arthur taken some years ago just before HM Queen Elizabeth visited the RHS Chelsea Flower Show and he is obviously just as energetic as he was then. 

TRIBUTE TO SHIRLEY WILLIAMS, BARONESS WILLIAMS OF CROSBY

 Such a sad time at the moment for members of the Society of Women Writers and Journalists hearing of some of our friends and literary luminaries, who have recently died.

Today, we learnt that Shirley, Baroness Williams, who was the daughter of that wonderful author Vera Brittain, died at her home.  How lucky we were to enjoy the company and friendship of both authors who served as our Life Presidents, Vera in 1943 (with her friend Joyce Grenfell) and Shirley in 2003. Shirley was always happy to take time away from her busy life in Westminster to talk at our regular lunches and special occasions and we offer our sympathy to her close family and friends.  www.swwj.co.uk 

h great sadness that we acknowledge the death of our Founder and Patron HRH The Duke of Edinburgh, he will be sadly missed.

The DofE has become one of The Duke’s most remarkable achievements, equipping and empowering young people from all communities to build the skills, confidence, and resilience they need to make the most out of life.

If you ever worked towards or achieved a DofE Award, we’re asking you to share your DofE story. Tell us how doing DofE helped shape you.

ADD YOUR MEMORYPRESS RELEASE

AFTER FRIDAY'S SAD NEWS - THE DUKE OF EDINBURGH

Since Friday and my last post, members of the the royal family have paid tribute to Prince Philip, who died aged 99 on the 9 April. Sophie, the Countess of Wessex, said the Prince's last moments were 'very peaceful'.

 Over the weekend we have collected numerous excellent press features linked to the many aspects of Prince Philip's extraordinary  life including his creation of  one of my favourite organisations - the Duke of Edinburgh Award. This wonderful life experience has meant so much to many young people nationally, but more specifically in Essex. Remarkable achievements including equipping and empowering young people with confidence, resilience, unimagined skills and eventual achievements which have taken them to enormous heights. 

SADNESS AT THE PASSING OF PRINCE PHILIP, DUKE OF EDINBURGH

 Although, over the past thirty years, I had never met Prince Philip close up,  I have been lucky to have been invited to various events where Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth and Prince Philip attended.  I'm sure I would have enjoyed a good chat with HRH who stood for no nonsense!  Here they are at Guildhall where I was close enough to snap them - I have many more candid pictures at other special occasions. 

A TALENTED TWOSOME DAWN KNOX AND COLIN PAYN WHO LAUNCH A RATHER SPECIAL NOVEL!

Colin Payn and Dawn Knox at Brentwood Writers' Circle last year

 https://www.phoenixfm.com/2021/04/09/book-club-april-future-brokers-spies-governments-i-vie-power/

It's always a pleasure to see my writerly friends and colleagues celebrating the publication launch of their latest books. Because of lockdown, we were unable to do this in person, so yesterday we were invited by Essex based PhoenixFM radio programme to a zoomed digital Book Club session.  Our supersonic PhoenixFM presenter Michelle Ward was intrigued with the idea of how two authors were able to  write one book entitled THE FUTURE BROKERS which was  recently released.  

The Future Brokers trailer on YouTube: https://youtu.be/CzkTykfuzs8

Follow Dawn who is writing as DN Knox on her website: https://dawnknox.comDawn’s Amazon 

Author Page: mybook.to/DawnKnox 

Follow Colin Payn on  his website: http://www.colinpaynwriter.com/

Colin’s Amazon Author Page: https://www.amazon.co.uk/Colin-Payn/e/B07SW14GV2%3Fref=dbs_a_mng_rwt_scns_share

Both our guests are members of our Brentwood Writers' Circle, Basildon Writers and Dawn is also a member of the Society of Women Writers and Journalists (est. 1894 www.swwj.co.uk), so I was pleased to remind our friends in all these writing organisations that the duo was appearing on our monthly midday digital programme. Lots of interest from around the world and, hopefully, similar sales.  

https://www.phoenixfm.com/2021/04/09/book-club-april-future-brokers-spies-governments-i-vie-power/