Books For Older Readers: Newsletter Two

Because we never stop reading.........

Welcome to our June 2018 BFOR Newsletter. In this issue we are delighted to have four guest posts from authors featured on our website. Called People and Places, these pieces tell what has inspired some of the settings and characters in our novels. But first, here is a quick 'catch-up' on our recent news. 

The BFOR website has added a new page, called 'Something Different'. This is where we hope to add occasional non fiction books which might appeal to our readers. It's early days, but please drop in and glance at the first few titles in this category.
http://www.booksforolderreaders.co.uk/something-different/4594156461

We also have a new strapline "Because we never stop reading......" We hope you agree that this helps to divert the focus away from 'age' and towards 'content'.

Enthusiasm about the site's aim to promote books which tend to appeal to readers in mid-life and beyond has continued to grow and flourish. We are, as ever, grateful to everyone who shares our books and relevant articles on social media, especially since many (though not all) of our great authors are independently published, so do not have access to the marketing resources of a traditional publishing house. Books For Older Readers was recently featured in a terrific 30 minute audio interview with The Alliance of Independent Authors. Follow this is the link to hear site founder Claire Baldry and prolific 'older protaganist' author Maggie Christensen  talk about their books.
Lots of our authors are involved in book launches and signings, festivals and similar events. You will find a list of some of these dates at the end of this newsletter. In particular, we will have our very own stall at the Hastings Litfest on 1st September. Keep an eye on our facebook group for further details.

People and Places
As we rapidly approach the holiday season, where better to start our People and Places feature than Thirty-five Minutes from St Tropez with author Jane Dunning?

  

"As soon as I knew that the main setting for my first novel was going to be a vineyard in Provence, it was obvious that my principle characters would have to be comfortably off and in their late fifties, with grown-up children and grandchildren. I was in the middle of a four month stay in the Var, house-sitting on a vineyard, thirty-five minutes from St Tropez, which became the title of my first novel.  We had taken a wrong turning on the way to the chestnut capital of the Var, Collobrières, when the tarmac road became a deeply rutted track with a steep drop to one side. A scary six-point turn later, the idea came to me and the book was published a few years later. 

It seemed natural for my main character, Richard, to have a brother who turned out to be a wealthy former superyacht broker living with his American wife in a valuable apartment in Monaco. I’ve been to Monaco a few times so it was fairly easy to imagine what their life might be like as wealth is so evident in the Principality. Richard’s wife, Helen, has a younger sister who moved to Juan-les-Pins with her husband but he had sadly died, meaning she was trying to make a life on her own. I based this character on a mix of one of my friends and someone I knew of who lived on the Côte d'Azur. I found her character interesting as she grieves, and deals with loneliness before life starts to turn around for her. Having characters living in three different places on the French Riviera, allowed me to focus on setting as well as on them.

 I particularly loved writing about Richard and Helen’s twin grandchildren and their blossoming romances. Danielle is studying at university in Aix-en-Provence and undertakes her business placement at the Belle Époque Hôtel Hermitage in Monte Carlo, while staying with her uncle and aunt. I have stayed at this particular de luxe hotel and it features in both books, especially in Stolen Summer. Her twin works on various superyachts in the Mediterranean and, in Stolen Summer, has been promoted to bosun on an Italian boat which explores the Ligurian coast of Italy, visiting places I have stayed in over the years. 

The twins’ mother is a very difficult character. Around forty, she has quite a hard edge and a distinct lack of empathy even for those close to her. In Stolen Summer, she is very unhappy that her father has agreed that her brother, his French wife and three young children can move to the vineyard to run their rental property while his parents take it slightly easier and concentrate on promoting the vineyard. 

The villain in Stolen Summer is an Algerian grape picker, down on his luck, who causes trouble at the vineyard throughout the story. When we were house-sitting, the police visited to speak to the owner to find out about an actual grape picker who they were trying to trace. We didn’t know anything about this, but after hearing about him from the real vineyard owner, it gave me the idea to develop his role. 

When I wrote Thirty-five Minutes from St Tropez, I felt that everything had to be realistic but when writing Stolen Summer, I was quite happy to let my imagination run away with me. I am planning on making it a trilogy and will start writing later this year when I hope to include a Second World War thread."

Jane was born in Guernsey but grew up in Bournemouth. After a career in finance and latterly at Bournemouth University, she retired in 2007 and now spends several months a year exploring France and Italy.
Visit Jane's Facebook page

Next we take a tour of selected areas of Britain with writer Paula Harmon. You can find Paula's novel The Cluttering Discombobulator featured on our website.

"I try to bring a sense of place into everything I write, whether it’s a train carriage or a cliff top, or somewhere completely imaginary. I’ve been making up people or creatures ever since I can remember so if I haven’t anyone real to base a character on (friend, relation, colleague, stranger), I’ll imagine ‘who used to be here?’Who might have been here? and go from there.  All the same there are places and people who have been heavily influential. 

Dorset and Gloucestershire 

I lived in Gloucestershire for many years before moving to Dorset in 2005. In my short story collection ‘Kindling’, the story ‘Goth Girl’ is inspired by a real half-timbered house in Gloucestershire which I used to pass in the bus. All sorts of odd things had been found when it was renovated and yet it appeared so olde-worlde, cosy and peaceful in the sun. Who lived there once? Why did she hide the things she did? 

Roads take on a personality of their own when you travel a lot. The A35 from Dorchester to Exeter, for example is beautiful, soaring and diving with the contours of the Jurassic coast. Fogs envelop and then disperse, revealing pretty villages or past mysterious groves. In the fog, I feel I could be  somehow travelling alongside Ancient Britons or Romans. ‘Bauble’ in ‘The Advent Calendar’ and ‘Night Navigating’ and ‘Threshold’ in ‘Weird and Peculiar Tales’ are inspired by this journey. 

South Wales 

"When I was eight, my family moved from Berkshire to West Glamorgan. Dad was quite unique and hugely influential in shaping my thoughts and ideas as a child. I was deeply unhappy when we moved as I’d had to leave friends and grandparents behind, but at home there was love and there were books. Lots and lots of books. It wasn’t until my late forties, after Dad died, that I started to take writing seriously. I began to recall my childhood in South Wales, playing in the woods and river, dangling my feet in the waterfall. Dad would take us on fossil or jasper hunts along the Gower coast, bringing ruined castles, caves and woodlands alive.While our Welsh village (and sometimes Dad) gets into several short stories in ‘Kindling’ and one in ‘The Advent Calendar’, it is in ‘The Cluttering Discombobulator’ that I wrote not only about that first year after we moved to Wales, but about Dad in his thirties with all his wild ideas as well as Dad as a pensioner, complaining that I - forty plus - had grown far too sensible for his liking. 

London 

Nowadays, I travel to London at least twice a week and much of my writing is done on trains. I love London. Its history and vibrancy fascinate me, though I’m so glad to go back to Dorset in the evening. I often walk from Waterloo to the office rather than take the tube, and imagine what it was like through the ages, from Roman times through war and fire to nowadays. When Liz Hedgecock, asked if I’d like to collaborate in writing a novel, both of us felt that Victorian London was the place to set it. Our main characters are young women, brought together when one receives a mysterious letter which catapults them into danger. One of the characters has an Aunt and a lodger living in her house, maiden ladies in their forties. Katherine thinks them impossibly old to begin with, but in fact they are not as stuffy as she thinks. I drew on memories of my maiden aunts who were all very determined, intelligent women with strong senses of humour and far from over the hill. I recall my favourite great aunt sitting down with punks in 1978 to ask them how they did their hair, pleased to report afterwards how pleasant and polite they were despite appearances. 

‘The Case of the Black Tulips’ is first in a series and as the adventures continue, one of the maiden ladies at least, will show her mettle and become an indispensable ally."

Paula Harmon, author of ‘The Cluttering Discombobulator’, ’Kindling’ and ‘The Advent Calendar’, co-author of ‘The Case of The Black Tulips’ and ‘Weird and Peculiar Tales’ is a Chichester University graduate who has lived in Blandford Forum since 2005. She is a civil servant, married with two children.

www.paulaharmondownes.wordpress.com 


And now we head to North Carolina in the USA to meet author Beatrice Fishback. Although originally from New York, Beatrice lived in the East Anglian area of Great Britain for over twenty years and has travelled extensively in the UK and throughout Europe.  Her Novel Dying to Eat at the Pub is based  in an English village.  

www.beasattitudes.net

"It starts with an idea ..... It started with a sentence, spiraled into a paragraph and morphed into an article. That’s how writing in my fifties grew into a craft I have grown to love in my sixties. 

Writing begins with one word, one idea. 

How did “Dying to Eat at the Pub” come into being? Believe it or not, the idea spawned from my husband’s grimy gardening shirt. Here was a man who had been in the military for over twenty-years, had worn spit-shined shoes, creased trousers and was always clean-shaven. 

In his semi-retirement years, it seemed as if all those things went to the wind. He became quite comfortable in his grubby clothes, unshaven chin and a growing interest in gardening. Not that there’s anything wrong with gardening, but tools were scattered here and there, hats and gloves left hither and yon, and a leisurely approach to life was a transition I wasn’t prepared for. One of his favorite gardening attire was a green, corduroy shirt and tattered jeans. Day after day he would don these coveralls and head outside into our small garden plot. We lived in a converted pub in a small village in Suffolk and the setting was ideal. 

On a particularly early morning, we were sitting at the kitchen table having our usual breakfast fare. It was when I looked at this stubble-faced man, green shirt with rips and buttons missing, that the thought occurred to me how perfect this new lifestyle was the ideal backdrop to a cozy mystery. 

My encouragement to anyone wishing to write is to keep your eyes and ears opened to what is happening in and around you. They say the best stories are told about a subject the author knows the most about. And what could we know more than our very lives. A memoir doesn’t have to be non-fiction. It can be written as a fictional piece, with humor thrown in, and tidbits of everyday life. 

If I can pen an idea that started with my husband’s gardening shirt, you can write about anything your heart desires."

Finally, we discover why the River Thames provided such an inspirational setting for Julia Thum (known as Ginger Black)'s novel Riverside Lane.

"The River Thames has been an artery of artistic inspiration for centuries and setting Riverside Lane in a fictional village on its banks gave me an excuse to enjoy and research the mercurial muse that has inspired musicians, writers and artists since before the Magna Carta. 
“Serene yet strong, majestic yet sedate, Swift without violence, without terror great.”  (Matthew Prior)
The stretch of water from Bray to Marlow is littered with literary landmarks and a walk along their towpaths takes you tip-toeing in the ghostly footsteps of many artistic geniuses.
“For they were young and the Thames was old,  And this is the tale that the River told”  (Rudyard Kipling) Marlow’s literary tales date back to Thomas Love Peacock writing his Gothic satire Nightmare Abby and Percy and Mary Shelley composing The Revolt of Islam and Frankenstein from their home in West Street.  Seventy years later Jerome K Jerome wrote part of his comic novel Three Men in a Boat at the local pub.  T.S Elliot expressed his resentment at the entrapment of marriage in ”Ode on Independence Day, July 4th 1918", from a house in Marlow’s West Street. 
“The river still chattered on to him, a babbling procession of the best stories in the world, sent from the heart of the earth to be told at last to the insatiable sea.” (Kenneth Grahame) 
The watery wanderings of Kenneth Grahame’s Wind in the Willows characters were dreamed up within earshot of the river.  The Wild Wood is an image of Quarry Wood outside Bourne End and in the village is the Edwardian boathouse, the model for Mr Toad’s boathouse, then Enid Blyton’s beautiful riverside garden. Three locks downstream Rebecca West set her novel Return of the Soldier on Monkey Island, where  she conducted much of her affair with HG Wells. This historic Thames hideaway is now converted to a luxury hotel. 
“You can’t walk by the river at Cliveden Reach and not believe in God” (Stanley Spencer)
 A common sight along the banks of the most painted river in the world is an artist and easel. Stanley  Spencer, who produced some of the Thames’ most legendary paintings, lived in Cookham where there is now a gallery in his honour.  JMW Turner depicted Maidenhead’s Sounding Arch in ‘Rain, Speed & Steam’ and Edward Gregory famously painted Boulter’s Lock.  Shortly afterwards Henry H Parker depicted a more peaceful scene in his painting “The Silent Waters of the Thames”. 
“Sweet Thames, run softly, ‘till I end my song.” (Edmund Spenser & T S Eliot)
 Edward Elgar is said to have composed his Violin Concerto from The Hut on Monkey Island around the time Australian opera star Dame Nellie Melba was practicing her arias in Cookham’s Quarry Wood. Nearly a century later the river’s creative pulse still beat fast when Kate Bush sang of  “that old river poet that never, ever ends”. Perhaps now, if you listen quietly, the ghosts of this magical river may sing you a song.  Or stand silently with the herons and the fishermen and as it meanders with quiet purpose through serpentine curves, The Thames might tell you a tale. The river provided us with the narrative spine to Riverside Lane, giving life blood to our plot and flowing through every character and chapter.  I am told the name ‘Old Father Thames’ stems from the river having so many tributaries, but I prefer think it is because of the boundless works of art, music, fiction and poetry it has sired on its tireless journey to the sea."

With grateful thanks to Jane Dunning, Paula Harmon, Beatrice Fishback and Julia Thum for their contributions to this newsletter. 

Dates for your Diary
25th May 2018
 Ebook Publication Date for 'Weird and Peculiar Tales by Val Portelli and Paula Harmon 
19th June 2018 Ebook Publication Date 19th for  The Case of the Black Tulips by Paula Harmon & Liz Hedgecock.      
22nd July 'On The Rocks' Hastings 7.30pm ENTRY FREE
Claire Baldry will perform excerpts from her forthcoming poetry book 'Simply Modern Life'
8th August  Helly's Festival, Helston 12pm ENTRY £5
A chance to hear popular author Jane Cable talk about 'A sense of Place in Fiction'
1st Sept Hastings Litfest
Books for Older Readers stall from 10.00 am til 4pm.....come and say hello!

The Ri

Hidden Gems of Bexhill

One of the things I really like about Bexhill is the way we have managed to retain so many small independent shops. It's not been an easy time for the retail industry, and not all our smaller local vendors have survived, but compared with many seaside towns, we've done pretty well. So today, I have selected four small businesses to mention. There are, of course, many, many more businesses, who are worthy of a mention, but I had to begin somewhere.
I have chosen these four, because they are slightly hidden away. You have to seek them out....but I think you will find the search worthwhile. 
So let's start on the seafront, on the promenade below the De La Warr Pavilion.

The Bag Ladies
Nestled in a unit to the West of the Colonnade is a small business run by the 'Bag Ladies'. Come rain or shine, you'll normally find one of them sat behind the counter with a crochet hook or a sewing machine creating some of the very special hats and bags which are displayed within the extensive stock.

 

People who follow my poetry will be aware that I am particularly fond of hats, but could anyone resist the combination of a unique handmade bag with a choice of hat? You just have to visit this treasure trove to discover all it has to offer.

R and R Watches
If you can drag yourself away from the seafront, our next stop is at the back of the Arcade in Western Road. The entrance doesn't do the Arcade justice, but bear with me and step inside.

Keep walking and you will arrive at the most amazing shop full of watches, clocks, in fact anything to do with time. Prices start very low, and this is definitely the place to source a replacement battery for your watch or clock. Time-keeping is very important to me when I do my poetry performances, and I bought a watch there last year, with a very clear face, so I can glance at it without the audience noticing. It has never let me down.

The outside of the shop, demands that you enter.

And I can't be the only one who feels this, because, whenever I pass, the little shop always seems busy. Whether you want to choose from the  massive variety of watch straps or clocks, you will not be disappointed.

With such an abundance of time on offer, who could resist?

Moving on we are heading south to Parkhurst Road. It is parallel to Western Road and houses a mixture of residential and commercial buildings. Towards the western end you'll find the entrance to Unit 4 +2.

The impressive walkway leads to a spacious light-filled area full of original, good looking and well designed items. You know those days when search endlessly for something special, as a gift for a friend? This is the place to go. You will undoubtedly find what you are looking for, and it won't break the bank.
I'm no expert photographer, but fortunately these photos speak for themselves.

Did you find what you were looking for??

Most shopping trips include a rest for coffee or a bite to eat, so my final stop is at Avra, a little cafe on the west side of Town Hall Square. This is well within walking distance of the town centre shops.  If you stand on the central green and look towards Bexhill Town Hall, 'Avra' is on your left.
It's a cafe and takeaway, clean, friendly and open long hours.

It's the sort of eaterie where you can dash in for a quick cuppa or linger over a large mug of chocolate. Proprietor, Annette, will make you feel welcome with her warm smile and attentive service.

The very reasonably priced menu includes the usual cafe choices of breakfasts, salads, lunches and pizzas, so why take the walk to Avra, when there are similar cafes, closer to the town centre? What will you be offered that is different? The answer is a little taste of rural Greece. Alongside the traditional cafe menu, are a few home-made Greek dishes with one of two daily specials. 

I'm still working my way through the Greek specialities, but I did try the Fasolada, which is a substantial and tasty bean soup, extremely filling if you are looking for some extra carbs to sustain you for further shopping. I have also tried the Kotopoulo and pita. This is a plate of charcoal grilled marinated chicken  with home made pita bread, tomato onion and tzatziki. It's not high end cuisine, but if you want an authentic Greek dish for under £6, then I would highly recommend it.

Thank you for taking this journey with me around Bexhill. If you happen to pass any of the places I've mentioned, why not pop in and say hello? If you would like to recommend a further 'hidden gem', then please send me a message, and I will try and include it in a later blog.   

Claire Baldry is a writer, blogger and performance poet who lives in Bexhill. She has published 5 poetry booklets and two novel. 

More details about Claire's novels

Books For Older Readers: Newsletter One

Welcome to the very first

 Books for Older Readers Newsletter: March 2018

How it began……

During an online chat about six months ago 62 year-old debut novelist, Claire Baldry, asked a group of likeminded facebook users a question which generated hundreds of responses. She enquired “Why aren't traditional publishing houses more interested in novels with older characters at the centre of the plot?” Answers to her question immediately exploded over Facebook. She had inadvertently unplugged a torrent of opinions. One blogger spoke for many when she said “I've been banging on about this for ages, but no one seems to listen".

 So Claire set up a facebook group and created a website, which she called ‘Books for Older Readers’. She later confessed  ”I would love to tell you that my actions were the result of a longstanding literary vision, but that would not be truthful. I was motivated by a combination of curiosity, the desire to help out and a self-interested wish to increase the sales of my own recently published book”.

Initial reactions to the website were mixed. Enthusiasm and gratitude were interspersed with (sometimes angry) accusations on social media that Claire was being ageist and trying to pigeon hole reading tastes. But Claire kept going. As she explained “I never really understood the ageist argument, because books are already described as ‘young adult’ or ‘chicklit’. My website was certainly not intended to tell people of any age what they should be reading. It was simply a tool for readers who were seeking books which reflected some of those issues and emotions experienced by people in mid-life and beyond.”

Despite the occasional criticism, the facebook group proved extremely popular. Moreover, the website hits quickly grew from hundreds to thousands.  People began to blog about the initiative, and very many authors asked for their books to be featured on the site. Readers were interested in browsing the digital bookshelves to discover new titles which might appeal to them. Claire found herself at the start of what could now be described as a literary campaign.

The Website

The Books for Older Readers website now features 45 very varied titles with more on the way. If you haven’t had time to look recently, this is the link www.booksforolderreaders.co.uk

BBC Radio London

 By coincidence, at about the same time as Claire set up the website, a forward looking (and young) commissioning editor of a large publishing house put out a timely request for manuscripts which contained older protagonists. Phoebe Morgan had noticed a demand. One of the Older Readers facebook group with media experience alerted Claire, and in January this year Christine Webber and Claire Baldry, both now novelists, were invited to be interviewed with Phoebe on the BBC Radio London Jo Good Show. Christine was interviewed live over the phone, whilst Claire travelled to New Broadcasting House to meet up with Jo and Phoebe for a face to face discussion. The session proved popular with listeners and gave extra credibility to the idea that some themes in books are more likely to appeal to older readers, not to mention the commercial argument that readers of a certain age are often avid buyers of books.

Where Next?

There is no master plan for the future direction of the group. Claire’s view is that now the website seems to be taking off, she will just wait and see where it leads.

There will definitely be further (probably shorter) newsletters. More giveaways have been discussed, and hopefully the group will attract future and increasing press coverage. Look out for stalls and speakers at occasional Literary Festivals.

With continuing success, both ‘older’ readers, and writers whose books appeal to those readers, could become the winners.

Giveaway   

With winners in mind, and to celebrate their very first newsletter, the Books For Older Readers group are offering a 3 Book Bundle to one lucky newsletter subscriber. For a chance to win, subscribers must have a UK address and sign up by 31^st March 2018. This is the link.  http://www.booksforolderreaders.co.uk/subscribe-to-newsletter/4594153382

  

Thank you to the following authors for contributing to the giveaway

‘Changes’ by Voinks   "Changes happen in life. Just hold on tight and enjoy the ride."

‘Different Genes’ by Claire Baldry    “Brilliantly written with depth and heart”

‘The Faerie Tree’ by Jane Cable    “The whole emotional content is quite perfectly handled”

Dates for your Diary

13^th March      Caroline James: Publication Date  ‘The Best Boomerville Hotel’ 

17^th March      Claire Baldry: Book Signing of ‘Different Genes’ at Rother Books in Battle

31^st March       BFOR Newsletter Subscription Giveaway Deadline

1^st May             Linda MacDonald: Publication of New Edition of ‘Meeting Lydia’

4^th May            Faith Hogan: Publication of New Edition of ‘Secrets We Keep’

5^th May            Barbara Quinn: Book Signing of ‘The Summer Springsteen's Songs Saved Me’

                        at Asbury Park, New Jersey, USA

1^st June          Bethany Askew: Talk Ilminster Literary Festival

For more details go to http://www.booksforolderreaders.co.uk/events-calendar/4594226653

We are delighted that you have taken an interest in our group.

Thank you for your support.

Bexhill Community: A Resident's View

I am a great believer in freedom of speech. It is an essential ingredient of a civilised society. It is perfectly possible for people to express differing views, argue even, without resorting to personal attacks, insults or abuse. Nevertheless, anyone who engages in social media, will almost certainly have witnessed examples of people posting language and opinions which are frankly unacceptable in a civilised society. Social media has galloped ahead of normal conversation, and common courtesy has not yet caught up.
So what has this got to do with my home town of Bexhill?
The connection is this; that despite its appearance as a sleepy rather old fashioned seaside town with an above average proportion of retired residents, Bexhill is full of social media users. There are many thriving facebook groups with thousands of members, who tease out topics of local interest. Even some of our local councillors join in the discussion. Popular subjects such as pot holes, parking, and dog poo, are probably similar to those discussed in other towns and villages, but, at present, there is something extra afoot in the sleepy town of Bexhill. We have a lot to talk about, not always with as much courtesy as I would like, but emotions are running high.
At this point, I suppose I should add a disclaimer. What follows is my personal opinion. If readers disagree or agree, I would welcome your comments, particularly if you can manage to do so without insulting me, or for that matter anyone else.

In Bexhill we have a strong sense of community. The centre is quite self-contained geographically, and the seafront with the Colonnade and De La Warr Pavilion pulls the town together. If you take a walk along the promenade on one of our very many sunny days, you are likely to meet people you know.

                                    The De La Warr Pavilion which overlooks the Colonnade

Added to this we have been very privileged with a number of events and entertainment venues. These have lifted Bexhill above more humdrum areas. There are far too many to name, so I am just going to give a few examples, chosen to illustrate my concerns for the developing future community of our lovely town.

Firstly, I will mention the Colonnade, a beautiful semi-circular building, grade 2 listed as an unusual example of a seafront performance space. For the past few years, its enterprising leaseholder has returned it to its listed purpose, by providing refreshments and live music on most sunny weekends. Residents and visitors loved it, and we flocked there in our hundreds. It became a very special meeting place for the community. In fact I know several people who moved to Bexhill specifically, because they were so enchanted by the live entertainment afternoons at the Colonnade.

                                  A sunny afternoon listening to live music at the Colonnade

     The Domes above the Colonnade

Secondly, we have a number of really spectacular community events, mainly funded through local donations, stallholders and sponsorship, and run entirely by volunteers. These events have also received small grants from the local council, but only guaranteed for the first three years, due to a policy known as pump priming. Once year four arrives, most events are only eligible to bid for a share of the community events fund. The amounts involved are much smaller with decisions often made too late for the organisers to take full account of in their long-term planning. I am enormously grateful to the local volunteers who run these events, and help to make our town both unique and prosperous.

Festival of the Sea, a weekend event organised by volunteers 

Bexhill Christmas Tree 2017 funded by the community event Shining Lights 

One of the many Charleston sessions which prepared the town to break a world record! 

This was why I set up the 'Three Events Bexhill' fundraising group six months ago .... to

raise money towards the continuation of three much loved community events, namely Festival of the Sea, Shining Lights and The Roaring Twenties. The funds raised will never be sufficient to keep these events going without other substantial support, but I wanted to do what I could. And the people of Bexhill have been generous. They have donated to our justgiving page, purchased our raffle tickets, and promised to support our quizzes and discos. We are truly grateful.
If you are not a resident of Bexhill, or have not kept up with recent developments, then you are probably wondering why I have chosen this time to write about such a topic. My reason is this:
The Colonnade was closed by our local council a few months ago, and the previous leaseholder and tenants were instructed to leave. Our local council were subsequently unable to find a suitable new leaseholder, so has since earmarked £260,000 for damp-proofing, refurbishment and salaries. They are now planning to run the Colonnade 'inhouse'. Several people have expressed concerns about the council's capacity to run a catering business, but the council are currently advertising for someone to manage it. Although the damp had been frequently reported in previous years, nothing was done until now. We are told that the newly refurbished cafe/restaurant will be open in time for the 'busy period' in 2018. I sincerely hope it will be, and that we get our live entertainment afternoons back, so that the Colonnade returns to its grade 2 listed designation.
Even more recently came the announcement that one of the Three Events I mentioned earlier has been cancelled for 2018 due to concerns about future funding from the council. Without a change to the Council's 'pump-priming' policy, I am worried whether we will see the 'Roaring Twenties Day' return, or get another chance to take part in another Charleston World Record of which our town is so proud.
So what will happen now? The situation is very uncertain, but here are three important dates.
This week I believe that the council will be discussing their proposed  allocation of £10,000 for people to bid from to celebrate the wedding of Harry and Megham. I'm all for this wonderful couple, but surely we can celebrate their wedding without dipping into the diminishing pot of council money? It seems to me that the council has more pressing priorities.
On 1st March there will be a discussion at our local Town Forum about events funding. As representatives of our local council will be speaking, I do hope that they take the opportunity to sincerely thank and offer encouragement to the volunteer organisers of all our community events for the massive contribution they have made to our lovely town.
Finally, please note that our local council represents all of Rother and not just Bexhill. Despite an overwhelming response from everyone who took part in the recent consultation in favour of establishing a Bexhill Town Council, this was refused by our council. Nobody is suggesting that a Town Council would have major powers, but it would have been a very inexpensive start towards more local decision making.
So my last important date is in May 2019, when I presume Bexhill will have local elections. If you are interested in the continued prosperity of our lovely town, then please put party politics aside and vote for the candidates who you feel will be willing to support the prosperity of our lovely town and the rights of Bexhill residents to have a council which genuinely takes account of their views.
I'm sure this topic will continue to be thrashed out on social media for some time to come. I just wanted to have my say.