SYLVIA KENT'S READING & WRITING FORUM

A history and lifestyle journal www.swwj.co.uk

Sunday, July 31, 2022

LIONESSES CAPTAIN LEAH WILLIAMSON JUBILANT AFTER ENGLAND WINS THE EUROS AGAINST GERMANY 2-1

 


ts

Smiles all round at Wembley this evening when the Duke of Cambridge gave England captain Leah Williamson a heartfelt hug after the Lionesses' victory against the German team. Prince William shook hands with all the radiant players with a special word of praise for Chloe Kelly who scored the decisive goal against the opposing team during overtime. 

Queen Elizabeth led the praise telling the team in a statement:

 'You have all set an example that will be an inspiration for girls and women today, and for future generations'.

CELEBRATING BIRMINGHAM 22 COMMONWEALTH GAMES AND INTRODUCING PERRY, THE MULTI-COLOURED BULL

The Commonwealth Games?

Birmingham is the place to be at this moment. The UK's second city is fascinating and the temporary home of the  Commonwealth Games taking place right now.  

A little background: The Commonwealth Games is a multi-sport competition that takes place every four years with certain nations invited to take part. The 56 member states of the Commonwealth are invited to participate alongside 18 other territories who do not compete separately in the Olympics but compete in the Commonwealth Games under their own flags. Similarly, Team GB, who take part in the Olympics, are split into 14 separate teams during the Commonwealth Games. Those are the four home nations, three crown dependencies and all but three inhabited overseas territories. 

The first Commonwealth Games took place in Hamilton, Canada back in 1930 with the 2022 competition in Birmingham, United Kingdom being the 22nd edition of the games. While viewing coverage of the Commonwealth Games over the coming days, you will likely come across the Commonwealth Games mascot Perry - a multi-coloured bull. 

Perry the famous Birmingham Bull

Athletes representing 72 Commonwealth Games Federations marched through Birmingham at the newly-refurbished Alexander Stadium for the opening ceremony on 28th July. 

Thursday, July 28, 2022

THE SOCIETY OF WOMEN WRITERS AND JOURNALISTS PRESENT A SUPERB LINE-UP ON FRIDAY SEPTEMBER 16 AT BRUNEL UNIVERSITY

The SWWJ Writers'  Conference 2022 image

 https://www.facebook.com/741142869/videos/738460440824644/

COME AND JOIN US? 

Organised in Partnership with Brunel University's Arts and Humanities Department, this exciting conference is packed with help, advice and thought provoking sessions. Full details at www.swwj.co.uk

We have an awe inspiring line up, including the poet Benjamin Zephaniah, who recently appeared in the international TV hit series 'Peaky Blinders'; Christina Lamb OBE, top foreign correspondent and winner of Europe’s top war reporting prize - the Prix Bayeux; Liza DeBlock, Agent at Mushens having worked with multiple Sunday Times and New York Times bestselling authors; Darren Hardy, Amazon's Head of UK Author and Editorial programmes; Mike Denham, Ex treasury and Deutsche Bank, who will be running a session on non fiction books and using a blog to promote your writing and encourage publication, Rebecca Harding, Chair of the SWWJ, business author, journalist and international marketing consultant.

With a mixture of workshops and keynote sessions there will be masses to enjoy and to learn from.

The full agenda and timings are currently being finalised. The agenda will be released very soon.

The conference is open to members and non-members and is aimed at anyone with an amateur or professional interest in writing or publishing, including both authors and journalists.

The conference will run from 9.30 am to 7.30 pm. Ticket prices include lunch and refreshments during the day. Finally, the day will be rounded off with an evening drinks reception, the perfect chance to enjoy a glass of something sparkling and network with your fellow writing professionals.

Special Guest Speakers include:

Benjamin Zephaniah

Benjamin is Poet, Novelist, Playwright, Musician, Actor, Television and Radio presenter.

He cannot remember a time when he was not creating poetry but this had nothing to do with school where poetry meant very little to him, in fact he had finished full time education at the age of 13. His poetry is strongly influenced by the music and poetry of Jamaica and what he calls ‘street politics’.

In the early Eighties when Punks and Rastas were on the streets protesting about SUS Laws, high unemployment, homelessness and the National Front, Zephaniah’s poetry could be heard on the demonstrations, at youth gatherings, outside police stations, and on the dance floor. It was once said of him that he was Britain’s most filmed, photographed, and identifiable poet, this was because of his ability to perform on stage, but most of all on television, bringing Dub Poetry straight into British living rooms. The mission was to take poetry everywhere, he hated the dead image that academia and the establishment had given poetry and proclaimed that he was out to popularise poetry by reaching people who did not read books, those that were keen on books could now witness a book coming to life on the stage. This poetry was political, musical, radical, relevant and on TV.

Young writers have said that the accessibility of his work has inspired them to take up writing, many record sleeves bear witness to the fact that he has inspired many of the new generation of rappers, and of all the performance poets that emerged in the late seventies and early eighties he is one of the few that is still going strong. He has sixteen honorary doctorates and the Ealing Hospital in west London has named a wing after him in recognition of his work. Zephaniah believes that working with human rights groups, animal rights groups and other political organisations means that he will never lack subject matter. He now spends much of his time in China, but he continues working throughout Asia, South America and Africa, and is as passionate about politics and poetry now as he has ever been.

With a career spanning four decades, he has been listed in The Times’ list of 50 greatest postwar writers and been voted the nations third favorite poet of all times in a BBC poll.

Source: https://benjaminzephaniah.com/

Tuesday, July 19, 2022

SANDRA HOWARD'S NEW RELEASE - LOVE AT WAR - A PERFECT READ


Our Society of Women Writers and Journalists' Patron Lady Sandra Howard celebrates her latest novel Love at War which will be released on Thursday 28 July. Her book 
is based on a true story, the loves, dramas and losses of a resourceful, exceptional girl. “This book will keep you turning the pages.” Celia Haddon. 




In March 1940 Laura boards a ship and travels through the torpedoed waters of the Mediterranean to chase after Harry whom she has fallen in love with. He was out in Uganda, but has joined up to fight with the King’s African Rifles. Will she succeed in her quest? 

This compelling story follows the loves and losses of a young woman far from home while war is rife, and how she grows through the trials she faces. Strong-willed and proudly independent, she has many dramatic life-changing upheavals to face. Starting in Germany, the story moves on to Cairo, Palestine and East Africa. 

Praise for Sandra Howard’s previous books: “...Beautifully written, emotionally engaging.” Daily Mail “...The novel never loses pace... thrilling.” 

Daily Telegraph “Intriguing and captivating... with plenty of pace and suspense.” Daily Mirror.


Sandra Howard was one of the leading fashion models of the 60s and 70s, appearing on the cover of American Vogue for two months in succession. She moved into freelance journalism, writing for newspapers and magazines including the Daily Mail and Sunday Express. She had a regular column in the Sunday Telegraph’s Stella Magazine, writes on travel for the Mail on Sunday and has written six previous novels. 

Her seventh novel, Love at War, is set mainly in Cairo and East Africa during WW2. Sandra says:

 “I came to write the novel after hearing from someone who had been at a talk that I’d given about one of my novels. His name was Antony Hummel and he had a huge collection of his parents’ wartime letters. Would I be interested in telling their story? I was curious, grateful to have the letters (though haven’t used them directly) and Antony gave me full permission to fictionalise his parent’s wartime experiences. He has since read the manuscript, which happily he and his wife liked very much. His grandparents were German, but had become naturalised British in 1911, out in Malaya where Antony’s grandfather had been doing forestry. His maternal grandmother was quite a famous figure in the medical world. Later in life she was befriended by Prince Charles who had taken an interest in her work.” 

RELEASE DATE: 28/07/2022 ISBN: 9781915122131 Price: £11.99

PICTURES FROM THE BILLERICAY FOOD & WINE FESTIVAL - HOT HOT HOT (BUT SUCH FUN)!

Our first Food & Wine Festival in Billericay's Football Club last July was successful (but so warm), and this year's event - with temperatures almost touching 100 degrees F in the shade, topped previous visitor numbers from  all over Essex and London.  Congratulations to super organisers Abby and Jodi Knight (below) and their efficient staff at Sunday's happy celebrations.  


VIPs include Cllr Yetunde Adeshile, Deputy Mayor of Basildon with her family, pictured here with Cllr Andrew Schrader and family. 

Also, sharing the fun was VIP guest Jacqui James, chair of Basildon Hospital Radio and many other visitors who met and mingled.  


Friday, July 15, 2022

WE'RE ALL LOOKING FORWARD TO SUNDAY'S SECOND FOOD & DRINK FESTIVAL AT BILLERICAY




COME AND DISCOVER SOME FRESH NEW TASTES AT THE 2ND ANNUAL

BILLERICAY FOOD & DRINK FESTIVAL 17TH JULY AT BILLERICAY TOWN FOOTBALL CLUB

The Billericay Food & Drink Festival is back for a second year on Sunday 17th July from 11am to 5pm at the Billericay Town Football Club.

Last year’s event proved a huge success, the idea coming from the great amount of food and drink pop ups and innovative businesses that developed during the pandemic serving the local community and organisers Abby and Jodi Knight of Great Idea Events saw a real opportunity to showcase all the local talent under one roof.

With around 1700 visitors enjoying the sunshine last summer, this year you can discover a world of  locally sourced and produced food and drink plus meet the people behind some of our favourite eateries and local brands. There are over 50 stands including Field Of Cheese, Andrews Caribbean Catering, WrapStars, East Coast Chili Company, East End Cuisine Pie & Mash, SouperStars meal prep and bespoke recipes, Abbie Lou Seafood. Outside entertaining ideas come from Caroline Morgan Flowers, Extra Events Essex and Freedom Leisure Hot Tubs. 

The Big Bear Company, Braintree, Stort Valley Spirits, Lava Spirits and Billericay-based Lusus wines will be just some of the many drink companies at the event, there will also be cocktails and prosecco to enjoy on the day.Organisers Abby and Jodi wanted to keep all the businesses really local so guests can go on enjoying the produce and venues, including The Beauvoir Arms in Downham and the Red Lion in Billericay and are pleased to announce a new sponsor for this year’s event, local estate agents Stanton Hockett and thank the team at Billericay Town FC for its continued support.

Entertainment on the day will include Essex favourite DJ Mark Tracey, Rochford-based magician Doug Roden and a charity football match organised by Stanton Hockett supporting Prostate UK.There will be lots of great giveaways on the day from our national suppliers: Inside Out Drinks, Fairfield Farm Crisps, Love Corn and Seep household loofahs.

The Billericay Food & Drink Festival, 11am to 5pm at the Billericay Football Club, Blunts Wall Road, Billericay CM12 9SA.

Tickets £5 on the door, with a foodie gift for the first 100, under 12s free. Only assistance dogs. Limited free car parking on the day. Tickets on sale NOW at Eventbrite, £4.50.

For further information, ticket giveaway opportunities, please contact abby@abbyknight.co.uk   or call 07917 003695.

 

Wednesday, July 13, 2022

WOMEN'S FOOTBALL - A HISTORY

For many years, I've been interested in the history of women's football and now there are numerous books and articles on this topic.

In England, the first recorded game of football between women took place in 1895. A documented European team was founded by activist Nettie Honeyball in England in 1894. It was named the British Ladies' Football Club. In one of my books I've mentioned a little about the football clubs belonging to large companies in Essex. One, in particular was started in the Sterling Works at Dagenham. Here we have the famous team in 1917 and more information can be found in East-side Community Heritage website. 


1894 was also the year that our very own Society of Women Journalists (later including 'writers') was founded (by a wonderful gentleman Joseph Snell Wood, then MD of The Gentlewoman magazine. The whole story can be read at www.swwj.co.uk.   More information can be found in East-side Community Heritage website which is a brilliant place to learn about Barking & Dagenham history (and my book BARKING & DAGENHAM FROM OLD PHOTOGRAPHS published by Amberley Press.  


Wednesday, July 06, 2022

CONTRIBUTING TO ESSEX LIFE JULY EDITION

 Delighted to see my latest article in Essex Life, July 2022, one of my favourite glossies, for which I have written for over twenty eight years (when it was originally known as The Essex Countryside).  I have also contributed work to Hertfordshire Life and Suffolk Life, among many others in recent years and still enjoy researching life and times within our wonderful historical Essex countryside.