Coming to England Review

 A theatre play at The Garrick, Lichfield,Staffs.

based on the True Story of Baroness Floella Benjamin's life.

Arriving at the newly refurbished Garrick theatre, we were greeted by the sound of school children, quite a considerable amount of them! Renovations in the theatre were not yet complete so no coffee to enjoy whilst we waited for the auditorium doors to open. 

The stage was set with a television boarder and fuzzy black and white backdrop (which older members of the audience will remember when the television was off air). Then the Playschool theme tune and words came on. 'Here's a house, here's a door, here's the windows - one, two, three four.....' I said all the words of its introduction out aloud. I felt so much younger!  Floella, played by Julene Robinson, bounced onto the stage and had a lovely 'high five' 'hello' song to greet us all into her life. 

We were introduced to her family, the way of life in Trinidad, both with family, school life and hopes for a future - her father wanted to be a Jazz player in England. Then we were treated to songs about the lovely foods and the carnivals with dazzling colours and brilliant costumes with feathered headdresses in sunny Trinidad. 

Her father left for England saying he would send for them. Then her mother left with the two youngest children leaving Floella, her elder sister with an 'aunt' (she wasn't a blood relative and treated the girls badly, and the boys were separated from the girls. Her two brothers were not fed properly and made to fight for their food. My heart squeezed at the thought of being abandoned with only hope of ever seeing her parents and siblings again. Letters sent from England didn't get to the children, so no news was received for 18 months.

Finally, the four children were reunited and on the ship travelling to England, without any specific adult supervision, to be reunited with the rest of the family. They arrived cold and dismayed at the way white people reacted towards them. 

As the stage changed to drab London scenes it was a terrible reminder of prejudice at the time of the Windrush. I'm sure in some parts of England some of these prejudices still stand but to our shame. Where would we have been without extra nurses and doctors in our NHS? We invited people into our country for filling gaps in our workforce and then, in public places, discredited them and made them feel like outcasts. Thankfully times have changed and diversity is more common place. 

Floella's story is one of perseverance, patience, determination and kindness showing the school children in attendance that education is key, success is made by your own hard work, reaching your goal with a smile on your face and a good heart, standing up for yourself and knowing what is your problem and what problems are not yours. 

I took the opportunity to meet Baroness Floella Benjamin earlier this year, at the House of Lords in London. She is the President of the Society of Women Writers and Journalists (SWWJ) of which I am a member. It was a surreal day, she is a marvellous ambassador for our organisation and the many charities she supports. She is still smiling at 75 and is still as beautiful as she was on Playschool. I don't know who liked the programme more - me as a young mum or my daughter!! We are both Playschool babies.

The story book for children is available from Amazon

I was glad to see so many primary school children at the theatre and hope they will remember it when they are older. I hope the senior school children will discuss the issue of racism in their school, that the younger generation will not have the struggles that Windrush people experienced and that all people embrace change and diversity.  

An excellent production well-acted and sang. Simple scenery and lovely costumes fitting to the era. 

Well done everyone. ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

Newsletter August/September 2024

 Yay. More Celebrations.

T’was a special birthday for me on 31^st August but before that, the month went well for Oscar the Owl.

With my husband Peter at Christopher's The Peel Hotel Tamworth

Spa Experience with my daughter, sister and niece at Hoar Cross Hall

10^th-16^th August – my annual visit to Swanwick, The Writer’s Summer School. This year I joined the volunteer’s team and checked delegates into their rooms, then did three sessions of selling raffle tickets throughout the week.

Many courses were available to pick and choose from but I only did a few this year, opting to work on editing my novel instead. One of the two-part courses I attended was led by visiting publishers. Their presentation included some 3-minute slots on stage for attenders to pitch our work to them! It was a nerve-wrecking experience but I was glad I did it. From this they selected six people and offered a publishing contract.

It was my 9^th year attending and The Summer School were celebrating its 75^th year. I met up with four others from The Society of Women Writers and Journalists and quite a few other delegates I have got to know over the years. There are always lots of new people to meet, chat to at meal and coffee breaks, finding out where they are from and what they write.

Oscar the Owl had books in the Bookshop and he loved having fun out and about in the beautiful grounds.

With Karin and Julia

Back home there was a lot to catch up on and preparations for having guests visiting. Unfortunately, a close friend was unable to visit due to covid in her family

but neighbours and friends enjoyed some Oscar cup-cakes as it was also one year since the book launch.

Happy September everyone. 

Thank you to all who follow me on social media and send messages. It is great to connect:

 

Facebook: SueFlint, Author

Twitter/X: @tweetsue13

Instagram: sueflint13

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com

Blog: https://sueflintsfs.blogspot.com

 

 

 

 

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July/August 2024 Newsletter

 Celebration 2 of this year came mid-way in July – Our 50^th Wedding Anniversary. Here we are celebrating in Derbyshire with afternoon tea, Ipswich and later in Constable Country.

What lovely weather we had on our Middleton’s Coach trip to Suffolk staying on the coast at Ipwich looking over the harbour with expensive boats. Highly recommend The Salt House Hotel salthouseharbour.co.uk and www.middletonstours.co.uk

Needless to say, Oscar the Owl had a holiday from being taken out and about so much. But on 21^st July we were back at Hoar Park for a table top sale in the red barn craft event. https://www.hoar-park.co.uk/

          

HAPPY BIRTHDAY OSCAR THE OWL – one year since published into a book.

Many copies have flown to new homes up and down the UK and abroad. Thank you to all who have purchased a copy from me, at an event or from Amazon. I’m truly grateful and it makes me so happy. And a special thank you to those who have written a review too.

Monday 5^th August saw us at The Bank Coffee House, Alrewas, near Burton-on-Trent. We were made so welcome and enjoyed a small audience of 3 girls and one boy, with their parents. The children coloured owl pictures as they waited for the book to be read to them and then were very observant pointing out things in the pictures.

What a lovely venue – nice décor, gifts and card to buy and delicious coffee and cakes etc. You’ll find it just off the A38. http://www.thebankcoffeehouse.co.uk/

Thursday 8^th August we had an interesting train trip to Worcester and paid our second visit to the independent bookshop, Script Haven. https://scripthaven.co.uk/ where Leena invited children and parents in and I read Oscar the Owl to two groups.

 Although my friend Christine lives in Worcester, I had not before spent time walking around the town so took the opportunity to do so before our train trip back to Tamworth. Wow, it is a larger city than I thought.

There’s a Penguin trail for people to follow and children could tick off having spotted them (we have an elephant trail in Tamworth). Such lovely artistic talent on display.

 

 

Lastly, but not least, meet Tommy. He was the lucky winner of a ‘Giveaway’ on Twitter/X. His grandma Louise in Nottingham, shares the same birthday as Oscar and was chosen to win a copy of my book, a T-shirt and knitted owl. I see Postman Pat has the T-shirt on. I just love to receive pictures of children reading Oscar the Owl – Tommy seems engrossed in the pictures. Super cute.

And now it’s time for me to undertake more writing lessons at Swanwick Writers Summer School at The Hayes Conference Centre, https://www.swanwickwritersschool.org.uk/ where, this year, I will be meeting and greeting, selling raffle tickets and having my book in the bookshop as well as attending workshops, enjoying the grounds and WRITING of course! SWSS are celebrating 75 years this year, a fab introduction to writing of any genre, editing, publishing, script writing, etc. Do look them up for details.

 Footnotes:

1.      All photos printed with permission.

 

2.      If you no longer wish to receive these newsletters do let me know.

Book Review

 

 

Publisher: Dragonblade Publishing Inc.

ISBN: 9798328446402

Review (as requested by the Society of Women Writers and Journalists (@SWWJ) for their members magazine)

A captivating start encapsulating a mystery and re-kindled love. The innocence and chivalry of the era is charming.

Kitty has a chaperone, Miss Steele, as her father is trying to marry her off into wealth. Her mother is ill and her sweetheart has returned from war hiding from someone who wants him dead.

There are mysteries to unravel – one within Kitty’s family, and the other in her true love’s family. It has the reader guessing the plots and keeps you page-turning to see if your suspicions are correct.

Henry, H as Kitty likes to call him, and Kitty, hold onto thoughts and feelings which keep their relationship at bay but desire builds within them as chances to be alone together are few. They wrestle with their own inner voices questioning their integrity.  As their secret relationship deepens, so too does the plot.

A ball is the scene of lovely dresses and dignified dancing. Horses and coaches arrive and the evening reveals more of Henry’s Waterloo experience and the antagonists are declared. An unwanted pursuit of marriage scares dear Kitty.

Two evil characters loom large towards the final chapters and fears of an unhappy union appears likely. Leading up to the ending is a tense gallop. A race against time; an army of good chasing evil. Will Kitty be Lost or Found? Will Henry’s love conquer the dire situation they find themselves in?

I was enthralled all the way through, all the characters gave life to the tale. I would recommend Jenny’s book to those who relish period dramas.

OSCAR ON TOUR June 2024

 

In the Yorkshire Dales

Staying near Holmfirth – ‘Last of the Summer Wine’ country for two weeks.

The rolling hills, narrow lanes, stone walls, farms and villages are a change for Oscar the Owl from the town of Tamworth in Staffordshire. He was invited to attend two locations and we enjoyed sharing our book with the children and adults we met.

First was Hepworth Pre-school – a short drive from Totties, along Scholes Road by Jackson Bridge Dike. Children came inside from playing in the sunshine, to hear Oscar’s wise words, see the pictures in the book and to tell me ‘My sister has a wobbly tooth’ and ‘my sister can run fast’. (There were children’s races later that day) They sat on the floor and listened well.

The teachers/leaders were helpful and a book-signing followed. I was told that as it was the last Monday of June a Festival is held each year to commemorate the end of the 1665 Great Plague during which the village had been closed off. A procession of villagers walked to Scholes village and back accompanied by Hepworth Brass Band. Local children are given a tea after the procession and there is entertainment. A pig roast is held in the evening at The Butcher’s Arms pub.

 
Inside Hepworth Pre-school and view of Hepworth village. Pictures taken from websites.

Honley is another village in the Holme Valley passing through New Mills and Brockholes from Totties. Its library stands proud at the bottom of the High Street hill.

Here a table of Lego and two computers were in use and a delivery of books arrived – some pre- ordered and others to refresh the shelves. In this quaint library, that is a community group hub, little seats were arranged for children to hear stories read to them.                 

                                

The library was founded in 1936 but the Honley Book Club ran from 1750 to 1823. More recently, heading towards closure, The Friends of Honley Library was created in 2013 and volunteers help to keep the service of books and community group going. Do look them up https://friendsofhonelylibrary.org.uk or visit if you are in the area.

 I was made most welcome by Elaine Fenton who kindly took these photos in a colourful, vibrant area of the library for children.

 

With grateful thanks to Carolyn & Stephen for accommodation in their home with pets Abi the dog to walk in the countryside with and Phoebe the cat as company too.

                                     An Oscar Shelfie and Oscar’s café, Holmfirth.  

Oscar the Owl book is available from Amazon https://amzn.eu/d/bqy7S7x or if you would like to receive a signed copy please email me at sueflint13@hotmail.com. 

 

 

May/June Newsletter

Oscar the Owl has been quieter/less busy and another month has flown by, but here’s my writerly news.

I attend an evening monthly group in town – we call ourselves The Tap Writers as we meet in an award-winning pub called The Tap in Tamworth. They sell real ales and often host entertainment and other groups. We are a small group but share stories/poems and what’s on locally. A new writing group has been formed at the library steered by one of our members who works there. Huge congratulations to Caroline – we wish you well in this daytime venture. Wanda Pierpoint-Jones, who leads our group, also has a daytime group meeting at the Sacred Heart church, Glascote, as does Sean who offers a critiquing group, so writers have a choice of places, days and times to meet for support and encouragement here in Tamworth, Staffordshire.

Oscar the Owl had another stall at Kingsbury Methodist Church and Hoar Park craft fair. It’s so nice to be with others who sell their individual creations and see how tables are laid out to attract buyers. I had some good conversations with customers at Hoar Park and made a few contacts where Oscar the Owl would be of interest.

Oscar the Owl available from Amazon https://amzn.eu/d/bqy7S7x

The Society of Women Writers and Journalists (SWWJ) have an international zoom feedback group which I attend. People from Singapore, USA and Australia attend too, getting up at 5 am or staying up late to attend, what is for UK attenders a mid-morning date, making us appreciate their commitment. Liz in Singapore organises the zoom connection, receives emails of our work and keeps us on track when hearing each other’s work and giving feedback. I am always asked how Oscar the Owl is getting on and this time received a suggestion to make a leaflet showing more information about the book, which I am currently working on.

It was so lovely to have visitors from Gloucester to reconnect with us in Tamworth and reminisce our meetings in Cyprus. Showing Joyce and her son Kiran around Tamworth castle grounds, through the town centre and then for coffee and cake in Christopher’s Restaurant was my delight. I am proud of our town even though, like many towns, shops are closed down and renovations are taking place. Unfortunately too, plants were in progress of being replanted and there was scaffolding around the bandstand BUT through the eyes of visitors who have not been before it was all very interesting and appreciated. In Cyprus, Joyce led the Paphos Writers Group that I was involved in too. We published our group’s work in a booklet called ‘Write On’ and proceeds went toward the local hospital.

Oscar the Owl received an A.I. review on Amazon, which I have to admit reads well. Love the human ones better though!

Reviews are so very welcome, just a line or two helps others looking to buy a copy of my book make a decision. If you have an Amazon account do post a remark or two.

Thank you all for your support and wishing you all a lovely summer to come. 

April/May Newsletter 2024

This newsletter is in two halves. The second half happened on 1^st May and you may have already read my blog via Twitter/X or Facebook. If not, the link will be at the end for you to access or you can scroll on the main listing to the blog entitled: Once in a Lifetime.

Firstly, I am now registered with the National Federation of Women’s Institutes to do talks to local groups about my writing journey. 

Secondly, Oscar book 2 is in its infant stage of preparation. I met with Rosa Brown, digital artist https://www.flontiere.com and received the first picture which is beautiful.

Here I am reading aloud at an open mic event 11.4.24 at the Helping Hands Café, Tamworth. I rarely write poetry but many years ago I attended Keele University for a course which included writing in nature and a walk through the nearby woods inspired me to write ‘The Tree’ as it was near Easter and it majors on the wood that formed the cross that Jesus died on. It is a long poem and it had been stuck in a drawer for many years. I was nervous to share it but it was well received, thankfully. Reading ones work out aloud is a real confidence booster.

At a Society of Women Writers & Journalists council meeting I was invited to do zoom workshops – Writing for Children. If you know anyone who may be interested, do let me know. Writers do not need to be members of SWWJ and male writers are welcome too.

The week ending April and beginning May was mind-blowingly thrilling for me. On Monday I went to Millfield Primary School in nearby Fazeley town, having been invited to read Oscar the Owl to four classes of children. They were so well behaved and the teachers so pleasantly in charge of the quite full classes. 

The boys and girls listened attentively and put their hands up to ask questions afterwards:

             “How long did it take you to make the book?”

               “Which was my favourite page?”

               “How old were you when you first wrote stories?”

              “Did you do much editing” (One class were very interested in the best way to edit their work)

               “Will you write another book?”

               “Do you read every day?” (I told them I read romantic novels) the same boy asked which authors I liked and I replied ‘Sue Moorcroft and Hazel Prior’; he said his Nan had those in her caravan with lots of books.

               One boy asked, “How old are you?” Thankfully the teacher rescued me from that one! “We don’t ask ladies their age.”

I have since received handwritten sentences that the children did after my visit and I have to say I was very impressed with the neatness, spelling, sentence structure and punctuation.

Tuesday 30^th April my husband and I travelled to London. 

Wednesday 1^st May we dined at the House of Lords. (see separate blog)

Thursday 2^nd May we travelled back to the Midlands. 

Friday 3^rd May, though very tired from all the exciting things that had been this week so far, I met with Rosa Brown and she gave me gifts. I was so very touched that I couldn’t control my emotions. Aren’t they just gorgeous?

Thank you for reading this newsletter and for your continued support.

Here’s the link re the House of Lords blog: Sue Flint's Musings: Once in a Lifetime (sueflintsfs.blogspot.com)