Our Dick.

RICHARD BRADSHAW Passed away suddenly at home on November 11, 2018, aged 83. Loving Fiance to Pearl, stepdad, grandad and great-grandad. He will be sadly missed by family and friends. The Funeral service will be held at St Mary's Church, Walton, Felixstowe on Thursday, December 6, 2018, at 2.00 p.m. Family flowers only please, with donations if desired made payable to ‘Cancer Research UK' or ‘EACH', may be sent c/o. East of England Co-op. Funeral Service, 213 High Street, Walton, Felixstowe, Suffolk IP11 9BQ. 

The AGM

This proved to be a very positive and well-attended evening with much discussion over items on the agenda.

One of the hardest things to do was to replace Mairead on our committee and Liz was nominated and agreed to help to begin with by organising a Christmas dinner.

A decision was taken over the possibility of producing a new anthology for 2019. A sub-committee was formed to investigate costs with our favoured Gipping Press, and dates submissions will be required and print and delivery dates. Beryl, Georgina and Dave will work together on editing work. They will investigate the possibility of selling not only the anthology but our members books in the Library.

The Jack Wilkinson Memorial Trophy will have a different theme for each meeting next year. The first, on 19 February will be stories about children. The second, on 20 August will be for stories for children between the ages of 7 and 11.

Cathy will act as liaison for both Felixstowe Scribblers and the Orwell Writers' League in respect of the Felixstowe Book Festival.

We will provide one press release after the Book Festival but also attempt to have sample stories from the anthology read out on local radio.

A new Writeathon will commence in the New Year.

Opportunities will be given to members who would like to spend a few minutes talking about their experiences of writing novels, publications and writing at future meetings.

Our next meeting will be held on Tuesday 4th December when the homework theme will be "They didn't even care."

Until then,

Keep Scribbling!!!

The AGM - TOMORROW!!!

Our Annual General Meeting takes place this Tuesday (20 November). Start time will be 7.30pm when the door will be locked.

The AGM allows you, as members of the Scribblers, to discuss any issues you may have with the general running of the group, the structure of meetings, the 2019 programme, our competitions, and possible membership drives in fact anything that will help us move into the future.

We must also make decisions on the present committee and who, if anyone, will replace Mairead.

There are many items to discuss so hopefully we will have a very positive outcome.

With any luck – did I hear any groans? – we might even manage to have one short flash fiction session. I hope so. That would round off the evening nicely.

One thing I must remind you about, it is time for your annual subscriptions if you wish to pay that way. It is the cheapest method at £30 per year although paying for individual meeting is £5 a time. Cheques payable please to “Felixstowe Scribblers”. We have continued to keep our prices the same as previous years. Hopefully these will go a long way to covering our room hire, Library and Brexit permitting!

Attached is a copy of the Agenda for Tuesday’s meeting and also a provisional programme of meetings in 2019.

At present we have no further details about Dick’s funeral arrangements. Thank you for all the sympathy messages both by email and on Facebook.

THE AGENDA

     In Attendance

Apologies for absence

1    Secretary's Report.

2    Treasurer’s Report.

3    Chairman’s Report.

4    Weblog Report.

5    Ratification of existing committee and election of a member to replace Mairead as Social organiser.

6    Alterations to cheque signatories.

7    Introduction of a membership list and telephone numbers.

8    Structure of Meetings:

i)  Frequency of our three competitions - The Bill Budner and Jack Wilkinson trophies and the Mairead Reidy Crystal Ball Award.

ii) 1000 word homework and themes.

iii) Suggestions for new themes.

9     Planning for the future:

i)The Felixstowe Book Festival 2019.

ii) A new anthology?

10  Publicity to boost membership:

                                          i) Regular notes to local papers/magazines

                                          ii) Use of display boards at various locations.

11Social Events.

i)             “Christmas Meal”

ii)            Summertime function?

12  Any Other Business.

.

Hope to see you on Tuesday!

Dave.

Memories of Our Dick

Dick and Cathy
with the
Jack Wilkinson Memorial Trophy.

Dick amongst some of the Scribblers
on the cover of "Words."

Dick and many of the "Lost Sock" crew.

At one of the Xmas Parties, this one held at the Brook Hotel.

One of  Our Club.

One of Dick's publications.

From the master of history and tales, our own
Man in Black ...

The Man in Black at Languard Fort - the chilling figure of our Dick.

Our Dick.

DICK BRADSHAW.

I received some very sad news a little while ago.

Our dear friend and Felixstowe Scribbler, Richard Dick Bradshaw has passed away, I believe yesterday.

Dick leaves a wonderful legacy behind, a children's series of books, "Feathered Tales," the ghostly happenings down at Landguard, "Things that go bump in the Fort," has many poems published including some with the Imperial War Museum, and, of course, was one of the scriptwriters of the famous "Lost Sock." Not only did he help write it but he acted in it too!

A former teacher, Dick had a wonderful sense of humour and scores upon scores of tales to tell.  He leaves such a very big void that we will never be able to fill.

Rest in Peace my dear friend,

Dave.

Our Dick

I have heard some very sad news today.

Our dear friend Dick has passed away, I believe yesterday.

Dick leaves a wonderful legacy behind but also a very big void to fill.

At present I have no further information but will send out further news as soon as I can.

Dave

WE WILL REMEMBER THEM... 100 YEARS SINCE THE END OF THE FIRST WORLD WAR AND IN ALL CONFLICTS... WE WILL REMEMBER THEM.

Meeting Report

Minutes of Scribblers meeting held on 6 November 2018

Present: Beryl, Bridget, Georgina, Liz, Derek, Tony, Hazel, Steve, Anne, Kay, Jane, Gerry and Dave.

Apologies:  Liliane, Cathy and Jim.

Business:

There was a surprise appearance this evening of Jane. It seems many a long month since she last attended but, she says, she couldn’t miss Mairead’s meeting. It was also nice to see Gerry again. The evening proved to be popular with thirteen in attendance and those who couldn’t attend really missed a fantastic evening of the spookiest creative writing.

With Cathy unwell - get better soon Cathy - Beryl undertook to read all the entries. It was a shame that Anne was unable to enter her computer let her down. Jim has just had his cataract operation so hopefully we will see him next time. Liliane has just arrived back in Felixstowe after a month ‘Down Under’ so hope to see her next time.

Beryl is hoping that her novel will eventually be published later this week. Fingers crossed everyone!

Dave reported an unearthly influence over the weblog. He has been trying to post details of Mairead’s competition as a new ‘page’. Whilst the title shows up, the content does not! Trying to alleviate this he tried posting in the side bar but nothing would show at all. In his weird and wonderful way, he just asks Mairead to let him get on with updating the weblog. Please!

Talking of the weblog there have been problems uploading images from both camera and phone. After the last eleven weeks, time has been in short supply but hopefully things will improve soon so everything can be updated.

Competition:

We seem to say the same words after every competition, and often after every meeting. The standard of our work increases dramatically. Take this evening for example. Our meeting in memory of our dearly missed Mairead.

Any one of the official entries could have won the Crystal Ball tonight but, after a lengthy spell of Beryl's expert delivery, Tony once again became the adjudicator and provided the result of our voting.

With Cathy missing Beryl buckled down to reading all the entries! What a hero! Not only that but she read an extra story when one of Dave's older works, Ticking Clock, slipped into the entry pile in error! Whoops! That one was ejected of course.

So to the results:

In third place, "The Smell of Coffee" submitted by Bridget who kindly donated the Crystal Ball.

Runner-up, "From the Deep" was by Georgina, our newest recruit, who was also runner-up in The Bill Budner Competition.

The worthy winner, "Three Books" was written by Derek, another of our most prolific writers.

Congratulations to Derek on his superb story and to Georgina and Bridget.

The other fabulous entries, in reading order, were:

London House                        by Steve

Dame Fortune                         by Gerry

Le Passage                             by Dave

Special Delivery                      by Liz

Flat Tyre                                  by Kay

Food!                                       by Tony

Night Terrors                           by Jane

Doodlebug                               by Beryl

The Night of Broomhorses      by Hazel

Every writer produced a fantastic story of ghostly and spooky happenings that Mairead would have loved. Everyone must be congratulated for making the evening a very special and memorable one to honour her memory.

Thanks also go to Beryl, not only for the reading, but also having collected the library key earlier. Thanks also to Liz and Anne for providing the goodies in the same way that Mairead used to.

Next meeting:

This will be held on Tuesday 20 November when we hold our AGM when annual subscriptions should be paid. The cost will remain at £30 again this year. (Cheques payable please to Felixstowe Scribblers.) If you have any suggestions for the AGM agenda then please let Dave know by email.. The AGM will hopefully be over in good time which should provide an opportunity for a short flash fiction session.

The Crystal Ball Award.

We seem to say the same words after every competition, and often after every meeting. The standard of our work increases dramatically. Take this evening for example. Our meeting in memory of our dearly missed Mairead.

It was a meeting with three apologies, from Cathy, Jim and Liliane. We still managed to attract thirteen members including Jane who made a welcome appearance to honour Mairead's memory.

Unfortunately a computer malfunction denied Anne her chance to submit an entry so that meant twelve stories. With Cathy absent through illness Beryl buckled down to reading the lot! What a hero! Not only that but she read an extra story when one of Dave's older works, Ticking Clock, got deposited on the entry pile in error! Whoops! That one was ejected of course.

Any one of the official entries could have won the Crystal Ball tonight but, after a lengthy spell of Beryl's expert delivery, Tony became the adjudicator and provided the result of our voting.

In third place, "The Smell  of Coffee" which was submitted by Bridget who kindly donated the Crystal Ball.

Runner-up, "From the Deep" was Georgina our newest recruit who was also runner-up in The Bill Budner Competition.

The worthy winner, "Three Books" was Derek, another of our prolific writers.

Other entries in reading order were:

London House by Steve

Dame Fortune by Gerry

Le Passage by Dave

Special Delivery by Liz

Flat Tyre by Kay

Food! by Tony

Night Terrors by Jane

Doodlebug by Beryl

The Night of Broomhorses by Hazel.

Every writer produced some fantastic stories of ghostly and spooky happenings and must be congratulated for making the evening a very memorable one.

Thanks must also go to Beryl, not only for the reading, but also having collected the library key earlier. Thanks also to Liz and Anne for providing the goodies in the same way that Mairead used to.

And so to our next meeting which will be held on Tuesday 20 November. This will be our AGM so, if you have any suggestions then please let me know by email so it may be included on the Agenda. The AGM will hopefully be over in good time which should leave us a little time for a short flash fiction session.

Derek receiving the Crystal Ball Award from Bridget.

Most of the happy gathering.

Most of the Bill Budner competitors

Belated picture of Tony receiving
The Bill Budner Trophy
from Derek.

Mairead's competition for the Crystal Ball.

Well Halloween has been and gone... Guy Fawkes night is tonight... but TOMORROW is the inaugural competition for the Mairead Reidy competition for the Crystal Ball so kindly donated by Bridget.

Whilst there are still problems updating the weblog we have to remember Mairead and her love for all things supernatural.

It was both a privilege and honour to have known Mairead. Such a lovely person, always with a smile, a friendly word to the newcomers to our group, a vast knowledge of virtually any historical event and a brilliant mind for stories in most genres. She especially enjoyed stories of the paranormal and often left us in awe of her words.

A member of Felixstowe Scribblers with whom she always felt so comfortable, she was also a founder member of the Orwell Writers’ League and an avid supporter and helper with the Felixstowe Book Festival. 

Mairead died in her sleep at home on 23 May 2018 and is so sorely missed by her writing groups.

Halloween was a special time for Mairead who enjoyed all the spooky tales the Scribblers produced at that time of year. A crystal ball has been presented to us by Bridget Robinson as the prize for the new annual competition in memory of Mairead. The competition will be for Halloween, ghost or supernatural stories.

Normal competition rules apply so please ensure there are no distinguishing marks on your entries which should be typed and maintain a maximum of 1,000 words.

Looking forward to tomorrow, Tuesday 6 November. It will be a special evening.

Keep Scribbling!!!

Dave