Paperback launch & film show

My new publisher, Wilton Square Books, are publishing a paperback edition of Where are the Fellows who Cut the Hay in March, so I’ve organised a launch event at which we’ll be showing two rare old Suffolk films. The first, ‘A Writer’s Suffolk, was written and narrated by George Ewart Evens in 1980, and the second, ‘Here’s a Health to the Barley Mow’ was made in 1955 and features the folk singing and dancing at the Blaxhall Ship, yards from where Evans wrote his 1956 classic Ask the Fellows who Cut the Hay.

What I realised while researching and writing the book was that the sense of community and belonging people took for granted 100 years ago, was largely lost over the second half of the last century, but in now being rediscovered with community owned shops and pubs, and even hyperlocal WhatsApp groups, so that neighbours get to know, and help each other.

A great example of this is the Framlingham charity Hour Community, so you should not be surprised to know that at the book launch, at 2pm on Sunday 29th March, I’ll be giving any profit on ticket sales, plus £2.50 for every paperback copy sold on the day, to the charity. Their CEO Nick Corke will be there interviewing me after we’ve shown the two films.

Tickets are selling steadily and it promises to be an entertaining and informative afternoon. You can book your tickets here: https://www.tickettailor.com/events/leistonbookfestivalcic/2040462