Delighted to announce that Joe Stirling’s obituary, as submitted by local writer Tom Carver, has today, 23rd May, 2020, been published in a UK national newspaper, The Guardian. Probably the first national to carry a photograph of my book cover; its been a long time coming! So pleased that Joe’s remarkable story has now reached an even greater audience. Joe would be thrilled to see his obituary, alongside other luminaries, inside a national newspaper…..
Mindful that in early November Joe and I will be undertaking our final speaking engagement of 2017, to the good ladies of the Hopton-on-Sea Women’s Institute, I thought I would take a look through our visits since Escaping Hitler was published in January 2016. I was amazed at the number of groups I/we have spoken to, resulting in nearly 300 signed books sold following the talks. If you then add in sales directly from book exhibitions and individual readers approaching me online or via the telephone, total direct sales amount to 891 and counting! Unbelievable. I thought you might be interested in seeing the list of talks, the vast majority of which were in Norwich and surrounding area. (Photo taken at Norfolk Record Office on 8th February 2017) Thanks to all those who have invited us. We already have 11 dates in the diary for 2018!
ESCAPING HITLER 64 Speaking Engagements in Norfolk and beyond during 2016 and 2017
| Norwich Ladies Luncheon Club |
| Old Catton Women’s Institute |
| Official Launch at Jarrolds Department Store, Norwich |
| Norwich Synagogue |
| Belton Women’s Institute |
| Norwich North Liberal Democrats |
| Norwich Chamber Music Club |
| Wymondham Heritage Society |
| The Norfolk Club |
| Norwich Community History Group |
| Out and about Club |
| Mercedes Benz Owners Club evening |
| Walsingham Historical Society |
| East Anglia Women Networking Group |
| Brooke Women’s Institute |
| Lions International Regional Conference, Colchester |
| Sunday Assembly, Norwich |
| Association of Jewish Refugees |
| Mid Norfolk Family History Society |
| Rotary Club of Norwich St Edmund |
| Attleborough Public Library |
| Koblenz Federal Archive, Rhineland |
| The village of Nickenich, Rhineland |
| Great Hospital Group |
| Townswomen Guild Central Norwich Group |
| Mulbarton Words Week |
| Townwomen’s Guild Eaton Group |
| East Anglia Festival of Culture, Lowestoft |
| Wymondham British Legion |
| Recycled Teenagers Group |
| Norwich Business Women’s Network |
| Norwich Inter-faith Group |
| Liberal Democrat Regional Conference |
| Time Travellers Meeting, Heritage Centre, Forum |
| Sprowston History Group |
| Norwich Lunchtime Women’s Institute |
| Bure School, Aylsham |
| Norwich Ladies Luncheon Club |
| UEA Retirement Group |
| Paston College, North Walsham |
| Norwich Labour Party History Group |
| The Norwich School |
| Norfolk Record Office |
| Aylsham Library |
| Vale Probus Club Ladies’ Lunch |
| Koblenz Norwich Friendship Society AGM |
| Unison Trade Union Retired Members Norfolk Branch |
| Wymondham Sixth Form College |
| Salvation Army Ladies’ Fellowship |
| Mid Norfolk Family History Society |
| Civil Service Retirement Fellowship |
| Easton Women’s Institute |
| Maddermarket Theatre for Performance of Kindertransport |
| Beccles Probus Club |
| Lakenham Townswomen’s Guild |
| Catton Townswomen’s Guild |
| Mileham W.I. Near King’s Lynn |
| Holt Women’s Institute |
| Thetford Society |
| Get Together Group Norwich Theatre Royal |
| Brooklands Care Home, Taverham |
| The Probus Club of Wymondham and District
Broadland Housing Association, Dereham |
| Cringleford W.I. |
An update on the author for all followers of Escaping Hitler – last evening I was proud to take on the role of Chair of Norwich Writers’ Circle, the second oldest amateur writing club in the UK, starting in 1943 and continuing every since. Our previous Chair, Adrian Dearnley, stood down after three excellent years and it is now down to my committee and me to take the Circle forward with new exciting projects and plans. At last night’s AGM I was also delighted to be awarded two trophies, won during this last season. Firstly I was presented with the trophy for the inaugural Past Search Prize for Non-Fiction. Photo shows me with Gill Blanchard, the sponsor of the prize. Gill is a professional genealogist and writer and you can find her website at http://www.pastsearch.co.uk.
Secondly I was thrilled to find I had come joint first in the overall competition for the most points gained for competition entries. I share this honour with Maureen Nisbet, writer for children and accomplished illustrator.
So a good night all round!
And I’m expecting the draft for Escaping Hitler back from the editor any day now! Then the hard work begins to fine tune the book ready for you lovely people to read during the dark winter of 2016!
