TUESDAY 15th OCTOBER 2013 IN
THE ROOM AT THE TOP, FELIXSTOWE LIBRARY
Apologies
were received from Barry D, Carolyn, Jane, Caz and Katy.
Those
present for the evening were Clive, Suzi G, Martin, Barry M, Liliane, Beryl,
Tony, Dick and Dave
It was
good to see Clive back in attendance again even though he had nothing to read
this time.
Ruth
asked to be remembered to the Scribblers – how could we ever forget her? Also
Dave bumped into Peter Jefferies our former Treasurer at the weekend. His
health is not very good having suffered two heart attacks and is losing the
sight in one of his eyes. Our best wishes go out to him.
Because
of transport difficulties and being stranded in Woodbridge, Caz failed to make
the meeting tonight. Consequently writers’ work from the last meeting could not
be returned tonight but should be at our next meeting.
Beryl has
confirmed that the rental is due for the hire of The Room at The Top at the
start of November and reminded us that our membership fees for those paying
annually are due at our next meeting on 5th November. The fee remains at £25 per year and cheques
should be made payable to “Felixstowe Scribblers”. Meeting by meeting fees stay
at £3.
As
mentioned at the last meeting there will be another Book Festival in Felixstowe
next year. The organiser is interested in producing a film show of ‘The Lost
Sock’ along with time to ‘Meet the Scribblers’ and perhaps examples of our
work. The possibility of putting together a small anthology is being
investigated.
It is
likely that The Bill Budner Trophy will be replaced and hopefully can be put on
permanent display in the Library. This is something else that must be discussed
in the coming weeks.
Caz is
proposing to have a ‘Jack Wilkinson Trophy’ to run additionally to Bill’s
competition. This would be held twice a year and Dick has suggested that the
competition should be for Children’s stories. Sounded very good to those at the
meeting but will have to wait for Caz to agree.
Caz also
proposes that we have a Christmas meal – perhaps in January after the main
festivities have settled down. She will investigate fresh venues, menus and
prices and once we agree a date and place then deposits will have to be taken.
The more the merrier of course!
Barry M
suggested a Facebook page for the Scribblers and he will look at setting one up
in the near future.
The proposed 2014 diary of meetings has been agreed
by the committee and will be circulated very soon.
The
Library’s next author talk features local author Tim Voelcker on Saturday 16th November at 2pm in The Room at the Top. Tim, who
did his much of his research at the Suffolk Record Office contributed to and edited
the book, Broke of the Shannon
and the War of 1812. Captain Philip Broke was born in Nacton and
had a distinguished career in the Royal Navy becoming a national hero after he
famously captured the USS Chesapeake with his HMS Shannon in 1813, during the
war with the United States of America. Copies of Tim’s book will be
available on the day at the special price of £15. Tickets cost £3 (available at
the Library counter), to include refreshments. Phone or email Debra to
reserve places at debra.rowe@suffolklibraries.co.uk
Now for the historical homework in order of reading.
Dave: Lucky to be Alive:
An account of an incident in the Bury St Edmunds area on 27th
February 1992 when a local villain, Barry Clutterham, described by some as a
‘likeable rogue’ but nicknamed ‘Crusher’, had an altercation after his
relationship came to a bitter end. He took his sawn off shotgun, smashed the
window of a police car and shot PC Keith Bottomley in the chest and arm. He
then hijacked a driving instructor but was cornered by a police firearms team.
Despite warnings, Clutterham fired at PC Derek Pooley narrowly missing his
head. The police officer shot and killed Clutterham – the first man to be shot
by police in Suffolk. Exonerated by the Police Complaints committee Derek went
on to become Inspector with responsibility for the firearms team. He was lucky
to be alive. He is Dave’s cousin.
Dick:
Death in Sadlers Wood: The four men sat enjoying their pipes and ale
planning, as the landlord thought, another act of villainy. They were all
highwaymen and one of them, Hezekiah Dickens planned to rob a mail coach
despite the warnings of his cronies. Meanwhile Lord Felton and his daughter
Maddy climbed into their liveried carriage and set off for town through Sadlers
Wood. Maddy’s husband followed on horseback after having his mount re-shoed in
the village. Hezekiah waited in the woods and as the carriage approached he
donned mask and primed his pistol. The
carriage pulled up and the occupants yielded to him. Just then Maddy’s husband Francis
galloped up, and he and Hezekiah exchanged shots before drawing swords and
duelling. Unbeknown to them the coachman crept round the back of the coach,
took a shovel and then cracked it across Hezekiah’s skull. They buried him in
the wood as he became another missing person...
Tony:
Torrents of Desire: Urgh knew he was in love. He felt lighter than air
despite the emotional turmoil within. It had to be Aargh the name he had given
her. In reality her identity was Orctsh but Urgh never knew that. She was
perfection, and as she carried on her path he continued in the same direction,
his gaze upon her. As they got closer he did not hide his smile nor she her impending
desire. They met and as they touched electricity flowed through them. They were
together, bodies entwined until they became almost one. Their juices flowed
freely and they knew their world was about to change because of their chance
meeting. As they looked sown the earth had changed. They had created a flood of
biblical proportions. Only water and a small ark. With that the two clouds
removed themselves from history by beating a hasty retreat over the horizon.
Beryl:
The Strike Rally: It’s 1906 and Bascha has joined the Jubilee Street
Club led by Rudolph Rocker to improve the lot of the East End Jews working in
sweat shops. Tailors choose the thin and haunted eyed cheap labour from the
weekly, crowded, Black Lion Yard. The Sunday before Passover is different, the
yard and surrounding streets thronged with the masses of families when at three
o’clock the groups march off, banners held high as the singing begins to the
tune of the Marseillaise ‘Death to tyranny! Work should be free! March on, even
to death! Our flag is red! The march from the Black Lion Yard is accompanied by
police on their way to Victoria Park, the Speakers’ Corner of the East End.
It’s an inspirational moment convincing people they will achieve their goal.
Such foolish optimism!
Liliane: The Popularity
of the Pullman Car: The
rich and well to do in the USA welcomed the advent of the luxury carriage
shortly after the American War of Independence. It made rail travel a pleasure
for the first class passengers. Excursions by train became popular. On the
longer week long journeys passengers were served by an army of staff, their
sleeping accommodation provided fresh linen daily whilst the dining car could
provide up to twelve course lunches! Trains also provided libraries, barber
shops, music rooms, an editorial office complete with printing press for a
daily newspaper and even a saloon car complete with dance floor! The lot of the
ordinary traveller or immigrant were not so well served suffered many
discomforts although there were basic toilet facilities. In Britain the Pullman
was slower to emerge, afforded less opulence than their American counterparts
because of shorter journeys but they always attracted those willing to pay more
for their comfort.
Barry M: Don’t ignore
the signs: Mention
the Titanic and modern people will say they either love or hate the film of the
tragic vessel. There are many interesting but largely unknown facts of the
event. Cats were taken on board ships as good luck and one named Jenny was
transferred from the sister ship the Olympic and quickly gave birth to kittens.
She left the ship with her kittens before the Titanic sailed. Tower Bridge is
approximately the same height and length as the Titanic, Twelve dogs were on
board but only three survived. Thirteen honeymoon couples were on board but
only six couples survived. Due to weather conditions there was only 30 seconds
between sighting the iceberg to impact. There were 20 lifeboats for 2,200
passengers with only 700 surviving. A novella Futility written in 1898 showed
eerie similarities to the tragedy – the ship was called the Titan in the story
some fourteen years earlier. The Titanic was never claimed as being
‘unsinkable, but was ‘practically unsinkable’ and was taken out of context...
Martin:
Ein bisschen Frieden (A Little Peace): Eurovision Song Contest Harrogate 1982. She was the last
to perform. Long blonde hair and a huge white guitar and a smile as wide as a
house as she sat on her stool and sung ‘Wie
einen Blume am Winterbeginn’... - Berlin 1938. It was their fault; somebody
had to take the blame. He called for action and the people burned houses,
places of worship, and daubed walls JUDEN RAUS. - London 2013 Bulgarians and
Romanians would have free movement in the UK. Cameron waited, Ed shrugged his
shoulders whilst Farage led the charge. – Luton 2012 The EDL marched fuelled by
fear, ignorance and 10 pints of lager looking for people to blame. – The
Inkerman, Ipswich 2013. Justyna said to Marin in Polish she could feel the baby
moving. They were not understood. It was their fault, taking jobs and benefits.
He was kicked and punched. Justyna’s Grandfather was one of Churchill’s few -
Nicole, from Saarbrucken, with her blonde hair and white guitar reprised her
song in Dutch, French and English so everyone could understand A little lovin’, a little givin’... –
Justyna and Marin’s daughter was born in Ipswich Maternity Hospital and maybe
in the eyes of that precious bundle lies all our futures.
Suzy:
Jasper Maskelyne and the 70 Year Deception: Londoners were dazzled by the magic and entertainment of
John Neville Maskelyne at the turn of the 19th century. By the
outbreak of WW2 his grandson was also a magician of world renown. Wanting to
contribute to the war effort he became a valuable asset and it was claimed his
talents confused and deceived the enemy. Hitler wanted the Persian oil
reserves, set up the desert rats under Rommel whilst the Allied forces had
become shambolic. Maskelyne claims to have been the originator of unbelievable
deception in Operation Bertram. Six weeks before Montgomery’s intended attack
against Rommel, two camps began to appear in the desert each attracting much
German attention. Each camp was being constructed of straw, hessian, cardboard,
tarpaulins, wood and scrap metal and even the ‘dummy’ soldiers were regularly
repositioned to make the camps seem real. The Allied attack took place 30 miles
from where Rommel anticipated due to the deceptions and eventually the Allies
emerged victorious. Could this have been Maskelyne’s greatest trick or was
this, in fact, another deception?
So there you have it, a number of
excellent historical tales mostly fact, some fiction, all providing another
excellent evening of entertainment.
Our next meeting is in three week’s time... Tuesday 5th
November at 7.30pm when the homework assignment of up to 1,000 words should be
something to do with Guy Fawkes, the Gunpowder Plot or similar. Alternatively a
ghostly story of Halloween would be good...
Until the next time...
Keep Scribbling,
