Booksy

I recently spent an afternoon at a well-appointed and well-attended book launch at the White Rock Theatre on Hastings seafront. The presentations were of very good quality and delivered by accomplished speakers; the display stands were professionally designed and alluring, the company varied and fascinating – but this was no slick, commercial enterprise, it was the launch of a local writers’ group book produced in aid of charities supporting children.

Hasting Writers, a group with an exceptionally long and respectable pedigree (established in 1947 and boasting Catherine Cookson as one of the founder members) have celebrated their diamond jubilee by producing what I think deserves to be known as a valuable social document as well as a well-polished piece of literature. They have compiled childhood memories from more than 60 writers from the age of  7  to … better not say. Each piece was carefully prepared and edited by group member Rosemary Bartholomew, who rallied the contributing writers and oversaw the preparation and submission of their works, each of which represents a little piece of the jigsaw that is our generation’s history. The cover, designed by Ron Nicola, reflects this and the book, printed by IT Impressions, bears out the quality of the content.

The works vary from a detention essay written in a prep school in the 1940s to a 7-year-old’s views of family life in Hastings today; from Baroness Fookes’ memory of taking tea in a house with scary statues in the hall to Patricia Ripley’s evocation of the world as seen by a child living in a basement flat; from a tornado in America to a hole in the ground reputed to go right through to Australia: It is impossible to choose a representative paragraph from such a wide ranging set, so here’s a bit that made me laugh out loud. It came from the detention essay, written by Michael Smith…

“My mother, who earns her living selling encyclopaedias from house to house, was out at work and the milkman threw over the fence some pamphlets which were advertisements for Express milk. Thinking I would follow in my mother’s footsteps, I gathered these up and went down our street from door to door trying to sell them at 3d each. I actually sold 3 at 3d each and one to the doctor for 6d.”

At the launch party, we heard speeches from representatives of the charities which will benefit from the book’s sale and they are certainly worthy and much needed projects – but you don’t have to be a charitable soul to buy this book. It is truly fascinating, good quality writing – and a bargain at £6.50 for 200 pages.

Info from the back cover of Diamonds

Over sixty people, from senior citizens to children, have contributed to this special charity anthology to commemorate the Diamond Anniversary of Hastings Writers’ Group.

Childhood memories of wartime, the Coronation, schooldays, family life, friends, activities, coping with a disability, living in other countries and aspects of growing up are all included, as well as childhood today.

Profits from Diamonds  will be shared between three charities helping children:

Demelza House Children’s Hospice
(caring for children with life-limiting illnesses)
Royal National Institute of the Blind
(towards a children’s Talking Book title)
Xpress Advocacy Service
(working with children and young people in care).

Price £6.50
Available by post direct from HWG, 39 Emmanuel Road, Hastings TN34 3LB (cheques payable to Hastings Writers Group) or locally in Hastings Tourist Information, Olio Books or Salmons.

Also available are two CDs Selections from Diamonds Vols 1 & 2  each with ten selections from the book. Priced at £4 for one or £7 for both. These are only available by post.

For further information about Diamonds and Hastings Writers’ Group
please visit  Hastings Writers