Felixstowe Scribblers Meeting Report for 20th May 2014.
In attendance: Tony, Dick, Suzy, Richard, Jane, Katy, Barry, Martin, Cathy, Liliane, Beryl, Caz and Dave.Guest of Honour: Maureen. Guest Entry Reader: Debbie.
Apologies were received from Derek, Les, Aidan, Carolyn and Tom.
We welcomed Maureen Budner to our meeting which was dedicated to the memory of one of our late members, Bill Budner with the twenty-second staging of the anonymous competition in his honour. Maureen kindly donated a new trophy as our original cup had no engraving spaces left. It was an easy decision that it be presented to Maureen as a keepsake.
The competition has engendered much rivalry in the group, everyone wanting to take home a piece of silverware to proudly display in a prominent place, in fact in twenty-one meetings for the old cup there were fourteen different winners – and with the new trophy yet another new name on the scroll of honour! Testament to our group’s abilities.
Jane presented the cup to Maureen.
We also welcomed Debbie to our meeting. Debbie was one of our members a while back but nowadays is active with the Felixstowe Speakers. Her offer to take on the onerous task was gratefully received. Reading alongside Debbie was Beryl.
And welcome back to Katy after a long absence. She says she went along to see Sue H at her house warming so the Scribblers were represented.
The Anthology.
Caz and Dave had a meaningful meeting with the very helpful Jonathan Steed at Gipping Press. We were highlighted some minor issues that have been overcome, not least the new design cover.
Sadly, (or maybe gladly!), we have drawn a line under submissions as we are now possibly a couple of pages over the estimated 75. This may be a smaller production than last time, but all contributors this time are current members or have recently moved away. It is a shame that not everyone responded to our earlier invitation to be included but this does not detract from the diverse collection that we have received.
Deadline to get the finished work to Gipping Press is 2nd June. They need twenty days so the anthology should be ready in good time for the Book Festival.
Talking of the Book Festival, the organiser Meg Reid has apologised profusely at our information being omitted. As a form of compensation which we have agreed, the Lost Sock film, as part of the ‘Meet the Scribblers’, will be an all ticket affair but that the tickets will be free.
We still have to investigate the sale of the books at the Festivals book shops so hopefully we can have our anthology included – otherwise we can always sell them ourselves on the day.
We have also been asked for one of our members to read a short story on Felixstowe Radio in conjunction with the Book Festival advert. Beryl has volunteered with Dave always willing to stand in if need be.
Giles has said that he will produce twenty copies of the DVD which can be sold as well.
More stories please.
Again we ask that you help Tony with a story or two for the radio slots on Felixstowe and ICR radio stations. The Scribblers work is broadcast on both ICR Felixstowe Radio stations and is a good way to hear how your stories sound when read by other people/.
Now to the Main Event:
The Bill Budner Trophy.
Listed in order of reading; alternately read by Beryl and Debbie.
All the Sunsets: Martin: A moving story, worthy of winning, about the little girl who was taken away from her home in the middle of the night by Social Services. Molly said her Mummy was drug dependent and could no longer look after her anymore and promised to find her a forever family Read it in the anthology!
Rallying Cry: Tony: Ron looked forward to riding his BSA Lightening Rocket in the London-Bristol rally. Cleaning and tuning the machine he accidentally knocked it into gear, crashed through the patio doors into the lounge. The ambulance took him to hospital and back again. Ron went for a smoke in the bathroom. There was an explosion, burning buttocks and legs. Being carried to the ambulance the stretcher tipped Ron fell off and hit his head on the wall...
Mates: Richard: I’m Geoff and my mate is Pete. We’d gone for a pint when Pete recognised the girl behind us, a spit and image of her mother Melanie with whom he’d had an affair. Pete hadn’t seen the girl for twenty years. He was certain it was Daisy. Pete couldn’t stop himself, went over to the woman, flung his arms round her only to discover she was Karolina from Poland.
A ‘Cold’ War in the Air: Dick: The Royal Flying Corps and the Naval Air Service were formed to develop flying craft and pilots prior to the onset of WW1. The primitive aircraft, known as ‘Blimps’ carried a pilot and observer. When war began, German U-boats feared these aircraft for they were easily spotted. A simple Morse message from the observer sent the nearest RN destroyer to do their duty.
The Rebel: Beryl: A take on a very familiar story for I was born among strangers. As I grew I helped father in his workshop. Our conquerors persecuted us Jews. Mother said my real father might have been Angelo. I rebelled and with friends spread the word. We had a meal prepared when Roman soldiers burst in. Looking down through pain and thirst not one of my friends were there, ‘Father forgive them......’
My Mum: Barry: Mum’s dementia worsened. I taught young children whilst my husband tried to write his blockbuster. He researched horse racing at the bookies, people’s drinking habits in the pub. When Mum had her funny turns she signed away her effects, her house and life savings over to me before going into a home. With no assets, the government paid for her care.
Catching the Tide: Jane: Kate sat in the doorway of the beach hut, soon to have new owners. The name ‘The Grand’ reminded her of happier times but Steve and she were drifting apart. Near the hut, he explained he had lost his job just when her mother fell ill and there was the wedding to pay for but he had bought a boat to do up, ‘Catching the Tide’.
Bullying: Caz: Mr Clayton asked his class if anyone had been bullied. No response. Had they been called names or teased about their looks or demeanour. Hands went up. Jeremy had a stammer whose speech therapist helped him and how his class mates had believed in him. The class applauded him for sharing his thoughts with them.
Daddy’s Profession: Liliane: Daddy is away again, on a secret mission he says. Mummy told me not to ask questions; after all we have everything we need in this lovely house. Maybe he’s a spy, maybe a hit man or an arms dealer? If he went to jail or got killed what would we do? What will happen next, I dread to think.
And So it Began: Cathy: Making his way home from Harvest Supper, Rector Barnes heard the whimpering of an infant, found Hannah near death, a dead child beside her and another one motionless but alive. Cutting the umbilical cord he carried the baby to Mrs Dunnett to care for it before asking the gamekeeper to return Hannah’s body to her home thus save her shame.
Bullies vs Victims: Katy: A rhyming poem, half of which sees each line alternating between bullies and victims. Then the victims take the stance, explaining how they have felt, questioning the bullies’ reasons and talking to find a solution.
Just a Suffolk Boy: Dave: An innocent teenager working on the land, enjoying the peace of the countryside. Went walking with his sweetheart, the gal Mary from yonder village. His call-up papers arrived, he asked Mary to marry him and she said yes. Then the army lorry arrived to collect him...
Frosty Night: Suzy: Eileen spread Ted’s old dressing gown on the bed then lay down facing his photo in RAF uniform. Shot down in the war he was. She had made sure her cat Tabbykins was comfortable. He went out hunting, came back, preened himself and expected his bowl of food. It wasn’t there and he couldn’t wake Eileen.
Every entry was so good, and so well read, that it was almost impossible to choose a winner. In the event the result was:
1st Martin with ‘All the Sunsets.’
2nd Dave with ‘Just a Suffolk Boy.’
3rd Tony with ‘Rallying Cry.’
Maureen presented the new cup to Martin.
Please note that the précis of each story has to be limited this time because of the looming anthology deadline!
Our next meeting is in TWO WEEKS time on Tuesday 3rd June when the homework assignment will be up to 1,000 words on “Mining Town”.
Hope to see all next time, so
Keep Scribbling!
