Wickham Horse Fair

WELGORA

(WELGORA is the Romani word for Horse Fair)

By ancient charter of King Henry III, 1269

2019 and still an unmissable event!

 

WELGORA – ISBN: 9780992722067

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In his book

WELGORA

artist Alan Langford writes:

‘I have visited Wickham Horse Fair, in Hampshire, more times than I can remember.

Alan greets a friendly cob.

There has been an annual Charter Fair at Wickham since the thirteenth century, always in late spring, and always, at least in my recollection, a rewarding experience.

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Wickham Fair – large oil painting on canvas by Alan Langford.

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The square becomes a busy profusion of merry-go-rounds, bumper cars and other fairground paraphernalia. A section of the Fareham to Winchester road is closed to traffic and used as a ‘flashing lane’ by the Romani horse traders.

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If you are fascinated by skilled bareback riding then there is no other event, at least in Britain, to compare with it. They are followed by horse-drawn sulkies, their drivers often leading more horses behind them.

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The confidence with which the lads and raklis rush down the gradual slope of the flashing lane, mounted on their coloured Vanners with no saddles or hard hats and unforgiving tarmac underfoot, though dangerously reckless, is also skilfully impressive.

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They are followed by horse-drawn sulkies, their drivers often leading more horses behind them.’

 

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John – see below.

Among the characters I notice when studying the milieu of visitors, those that are of Romani extraction differ in both posture and expression from the curious clusters of the local gorgias.

Many of the Romani are possessed of weathered strong-featured countenances, suggesting a long ancestry of tough individualism.’

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Watch Alan at Wickham Romany Horse Fair (WELGORA) 2019

The 2019 Welgora at Wickham was no exception, as full of excitement and life as ever.

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Horses are brought from as far afield as Birmingham and Newcastle.

High-trotting, coloured horses with big feathered feet are favoured by the Romanies.

Mugs and caddies illustrated with paintings by Alan Langford.

John has been coming to Wickham Fair for 70 years.

A pretty driving horse.

Children love Anthony Ridgway’s Wizzy books

Anthony Ridgway’s latest story

WIZZY

and the Seaside Adventure

– pure adventure, Enid Blyton-style 

– children on their own quest

– Wizzy, the talking wheelchair with attitude

animal magic with Honey, the dog

– watercolour illustrations by Suzan Houching

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What young readers from a Worcestershire school think …

Dear Anthony
I love the idea of Wizzy and the Seaside Adventure. It’s very creative. My favourite part was where the policemen were puffed out from climbing the cliff.
Other children will love this book and the adventures they have together. All of the characters have great personalities.

The cover is very clever and it shows you the setting of the story. Wizzy is a funny wheelchair with an attitude and your story’s hilarious. Dan is a clever boy, who’s adventurous. James is a kind, helpful and brave boy. Sophie is shy and can get nervous quite easily, and startled. Honey is a very loud, sweet and loving dog.
Keeping writing more stories.
From A

HUMOUR

My favourite character is Wizzy because he was really funny and cheeky.

I found it funny how the wheelchair Wizzy never understood any of the catch phrases.

I found Wizzy and the Seaside Adventure really funny and it’s my favourite book now.

This book is filled with funny and interesting things and I would recommend this book to any child.

I thought that Wizzy and the Seaside Adventure was full of humour.

I like how Wizzy doesn’t understand sayings and phrases.

My favourite part was where the dog peed on Wizzy’s wheel.

I like the part about the dog peeing on Wizzy’s wheel.

My favourite part of the story is when the dog sniffs Wizzy’s wheel, then wees on him.

I really love your book so much. I think it is very good and it makes me and my class laugh a lot.

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ADVENTURE and CREATIVITY

I’m really impressed that you can create a book like that.

Wizzy, especially, was a very good detective in the book.

Pete is really bossy and it’s lucky those thieves didn’t get away. I can imagine the manor house and the pirate coming for me – gives me the chills!

Your story was wonderful. It made me want to have more adventures.

CHARACTERS

I really liked how you put in a wheelchair in to your story, called Wizzy.

 Wizzy is my favourite character because he is like a robot but in wheelchair form. Honey is one of my favourite dogs. Dan is very funny because he really gets into it and can be very clever like Wizzy.

I loved how you made Wizzy so full of himself and how he always has to get everything right. I also liked how you put in more than one character and said not only what the children were doing but put in what Honey the dog was doing.

I liked how Wizzy is funny, Dan is very cheeky, Sophie is very cautious, James is very caring, Pete and Cindy are very mysterious and Honey the dog is very energetic.

In most books I feel like I’m about to fall asleep but with this book I felt very alive. My favourite character was Dan because he was very brave and wanted to get on with everything. I like how you put Dan into a wheelchair.

I really like how Wizzy thinks he’s better than Honey and is jealous of her.

My favourite character is Wizzy because he’s such a bighead.

I loved Wizzy and Sophie because Wizzy is such an amazing, cool wheelchair. I could not believe he could talk. He is also very smart, just like you. I also like the part when Sophie likes Wizzy, but then does not –  it is like changing the weather.

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USING TECHNOLOGY / SURPRISE

I loved the part where Wizzy made a hologram of a pirate and scared Cindy.

My favourite part was when Wizzy used the projector to pretend to be a pirate and scared Pete and Cindy away.

I wonder what it would be like to have a wheelchair like Wizzy – a friend to Dan and is always there for him.

I would like to have a talking chair like Wizzy.

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ILLUSTRATIONS

The illustrations a very cool but my favourite drawing is the pirate.

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NEW ADVENTURES

Your next book could be about Wizzy feeling ill or about Pete and Cindy stealing her.

In your next book I think there should be another kid in a wheelchair.

Your next Wizzy and Dan could go to the zoo.

I think you’re ready to be the greatest author in history.

 

TO BUY THE BOOK click Wizzy and the Seaside Adventure

ISBN: 9780993507878

WELGORA and Beaulieu Road pony sales

Beaulieu Road pony sales – oil painting by Alan Langford.

 

Autumn, the time of year for the Beaulieu Road Station pony sales, when Commoners and other horse and pony owners gather to sell their livestock by auction.

It’s a good place to buy a New Forest filly or colt, to meet friends or simply to enjoy an atmosphere that is as old as the New Forest itself.

You may also see spirited cobs, favoured by Romani folk for their patience and strength, being put through their paces under the trees beside the auction ring.

 

The working horse has always fascinated local artist, Alan Langford. Featured here is his large oil painting of Beaulieu Road pony sales.

Alan’s book, WELGORA, provides Alan’s fascinating autobiography and full page spread pictures of his beautiful oil and watercolour paintings.

Welgora-03

An Early Lesson – sketch by Alan Langford.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

For more about the book click on title – WELGORA

 

Maldwin Drummond lifelong supporter of Tall Ships

Tall Ship Challenger 7 graces the Southampton Boat Show 2018.

 

The Tall Ships sail training vessel, Challenger 7, graced this year’s Southampton Boat Show with her presence, reminding me of Maldwin Drummond OBE, who is unfortunately not with us any more.

Maldwin passing Cape Horn on his round-the-world sailing trip.

 

 

 

 

 

 

Maldwin was a keen and experienced sailor and a lifelong supporter of Sail Training, instrumental in building the STA schooners and Britain’s gift to Australia, STS Young Endeavour.

 

Little Knoll Press published Maldwin’s delightful children’s book, The Strange History of Seagulls, in November 2016. The book tells the history of the Waterside and Solent area – or rather George the seagull and his relations tell the story!

This beautiful, quirky book is fully illustrated by Maldwin. It starts with the Vikings arriving at Ashlett creek and traces the Waterside coastline’s story right through to the development of foil sailing on today’s racing boats.

More about the book The Strange History of Seagulls

Wizzy and the Seaside Adventure – book launch

On 14th July 2018, a huge crowd gathered at The Point, Eastleigh, for the launch of Wizzy and the Seaside Adventure by author, Anthony Ridgway, and artist, Suzan Houching. 

Among those attending were Sheila and David Suchet, Ros Holness and Tina Fanshawe. 

Anthony gave a speech full of humour, praising his mother, Grethe, as his ‘harshest critic’, and thanking Barbara Large for helping him hone his writing skills. 

David and Sheila Suchet read a section from Wizzy and the Seaside Adventure, and Wizzy the wheelchair, of course got a look in, making a phone call half way through the reading!

Tina Fanshawe’s horse, Nellie, was the inspiration for the plot in Anthony’s first book, Wizzy the Animal Whisperer. In Wizzy and the Seaside Adventure, Honey, the dog, shows the same empathy, helping the children bring to justice some rascally thieves.

Wizzy and the Seaside Adventure – book launch photos

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More than 90 people attended the launch of 'Wizzy and the Seaside Adventure' on July 14th 2018, at The Point, Eastleigh.

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Anthony announces his new book 'Wizzy and the Seaside Adventure'. From left to right - Sheila and David Suchet, Ros Holness, Jane Ridgway, Anthony Ridgway, Grethe Ridgway, Suzan Houching.

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Anthony praises his 'harshest critic' - Grethe Ridgway.

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A rapt audience as David and Sheila Suchet read a section from 'Wizzy and the Seaside Adventure'.

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Wizzy the irascible wheelchair! Wizzy interrupts the reading.

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Wizzy creates an amazing diversion in 'Wizzy and the Seaside Adventure'.

07---Ant-meets-fans

Anthony Ridgway meets fans.

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Anthony signs a book with his sticker 'EVERYWHERE WITH WIZZY'.

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Suzan Houching, artist and illustrator of 'Wizzy and the Seaside Adventure', signs books.

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Jordan and Tim - the fantastic volunteer book selling team.

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Suzan Houching's wonderful pictures were printed in black and white for colouring.

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A young fan with his colouring of a scene from the book.

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Children love the Wizzy books. They can be read again and again and enjoyed for the adventure story, the fabulous illustrations and the funny moments created by Wizzy the hi-tech wheelchair not understanding the idiom of human speech.

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David Suchet signs Anthony's copy of 'Wizzy and the Seaside Adventure'.

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David Suchet signing books for young fans.

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... and David Suchet signing colouring pages too!

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Time for selfies!

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Tina Fanshawe, the owner of Nellie the horse who took Anthony for a ride when on holiday and inspired his first book, 'Wizzy the Animal Whisperer', posing with Anthony and Grethe Ridgway.

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One of Anthony's keenest young fans poses with his mum and Anthony.

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Suzan Houching shows her portfolio of original watercolour paintings for 'Wizzy and the Seaside Adventure'.

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Suzan showing her portfolios of work - one for each Wizzy book, to David Suchet, Ros Holness, Sheila Suchet and Emma Scott of Calibre Audio Library. The audio book of 'Wizzy the Animal Whisperer' will be available shortly.

The beautifully illustrated large format Wizzy books can be read again and again and enjoyed at many levels – for the adventure story, for the fabulous pictures, to read out loud or to read in your head … although it’s hard not to laugh out loud at the funny moments created by Wizzy the hi-tech wheelchair, who takes everything literally and cannot understand the idiom of human speech.

Click here to buy Wizzy and the Seaside Adventure  ISBN: 9780993507878 

Click here to find out how Anthony writes.

If you are from a school or retail outlet and would like to know more, please contact Jenny on mail@littleknollpress.co.uk

Gwenllian the last Princess of Wales was born today

Pen y Bryn, Abergwyngregyn, formerly known as Garth Celyn, the place of Princess Gwenllian’s birth.

Gwenllian, the last native Princess of Wales, was born on June 12th 1282.

Hers was a dramatic entry to this world – her father, Llywelyn ap Gruffydd, was in hiding from King Edward’s men, and her mother, Eleanor de Montfort, died shortly after giving birth. Who was to look after the little princess?

In the first chapter of Owl at Midnight Patricia Lennan describes Gwenllian’s dramatic entry to this world.

Here below is a taster from the book: 

Garth Celyn, Abergwyngregyn, Gwynedd

June 1282

The whole court was in panic. Olwen, the midwife, was desperately trying to display an air of calm and control; her Lady was slipping away and her Lord had not arrived. Lady Eleanor had been in labour for two days and still the babe was not born. Olwen had not left her side and was near to exhaustion, but how could she complain when her Lady was in agony and had barely the strength to talk. It had been a long hot night and the morning sun was beginning to filter through the high window, promising an even hotter day. 

“The head is coming. You must push now, My Lady. Hold on, one big push and we should be there.”

Celeste, Eleanor’s faithful servant and friend, gripped her limp hand, soothing her forehead with a cool lavender-soaked cloth. “It’s nearly over, Eleanor. The babe is coming, be brave.” 

The young maid, Catrin, hovered around the bed not knowing what to do or say, tears falling down her frightened face. 

“Go and see if that physician is here, Catrin fach, and get more clean linen,” ordered Olwen. “Lord knows, we can’t do with tears at this stage.”

Catrin scuttled off not quite knowing what to do first. She rushed down the stairs via the kitchen to the laundry room, hearing Eleanor’s screams behind her. It was only a few minutes later as she climbed back up the stairs to the bed chamber holding a pile of fresh linen that she was aware of how quiet it was. Then, into the silence broke the mewl of a new-born. 

“Thank heavens, the baby lives,” she muttered to herself as she crept back into the bedchamber. 

Olwen sat on Eleanor’s bed, cradling the baby in her right arm and wiping tears away with her other hand. “Lord be praised, it’s a girl, a beautiful girl and she’s fine.”

But Eleanor lay still, she could barely raise her head or speak . . .

Want to read more?

Buy the book from Little Knoll Press

Wizzy and the Seaside Adventure – book launch 14th July

 

A NEW WIZZY STORY IS ON ITS WAY!

Wizzy and the Seaside Adventure

 

Last chance to come

to the BOOK LAUNCH of this super new book

Saturday 14th July 2018, 10.30am – 12.30pm, The Point, Eastleigh.

RSVP to Jenny@LittleKnollPress.co.uk 

 

         < launch invitation 

more about the book >

 

 

 

 

You can also watch a video showing Anthony Ridgway and Suzan Houching at work:

Wizzy and the Seaside Adventure – work in progress

 

To buy the book

Palembang-and-beyond-blog

Palembang and Beyond book launch

 

Palembang and Beyond
by Mike Roussel

 

Mike Roussel brings together in this book a fascinating record of the British Pacific Fleet during the Second World War, in particular the closing years of conflict with Japan and the cruel fate meted out on the Palembang Nine after surrender on VJ Day.

 

 

 

The BOOK LAUNCH – a reunion
Saturday 14th April 2018

A rare reunion of Second World War veterans from the Fleet Air Arm took place at the book launch of Palembang and Beyond, held at The Museum of Army Flying – rare because of the great age reached by these veterans, who are now all in their late nineties.

They were young during the war, aged eighteen to twenty, and their active service took place during the early years of the RAF, which was newly formed in April 1918. Their stories are told within Palembang and Beyond, a new book by shipping and aviation author, Mike Roussel.

The book launch was supported by a large group of guests who came from as far afield as Devon.

The Rt Hon Dr Julian Lewis MP, who wrote the foreword for the book, also attended. He explained how his interest in military history and a chance conversation with Mike Roussel had triggered the writing of this book about the Pacific War.

Mike Roussel spoke at the launch about how he had ‘discovered as it were by accident, three gentlemen who were air crew with Fleet Air Arm 849 Squadron’. In writing the book, Mike travelled to interview Arthur Page, Norman ‘Dickie’ Richardson and John ‘Buster’ Brown, all of whom had all flown in the bombing raids on the Palembang oil refineries. He also heard from them about their fellow airmen who never came home from the war, among them the captured air crew known as the Palembang Nine who were cruelly executed by the Japanese after the surrender on VJ Day.

It took Mike just over a year to complete the research and writing of Palembang and Beyond. During that time he transcribed the veterans’ stories for inclusion in the book and gathered from them many of the 151 photographs that are published there for the first time. The photos give fascinating insights into the type of aircraft and the terrain over which the Fleet Air Arm fought, showing how challenging the air offensive was in the Pacific War.

Fleet-Air-Arm-Squadron-849-veterans

Attending the launch were veterans Dr Arthur Page, who was an Avenger pilot, and Norman ‘Dickie’ Richardson DSM, TAG (Telegraphist Air Gunner) who flew with Arthur. John ‘Buster’ Brown, who was also an Avenger pilot with 849 Squadron, lives in Yorkshire and was unable to come the distance. His brother, Michael Brown, represented him and brought his greetings and his wishes that he could have been there.

Julian Lewis in paying tribute to the veterans, said, It is absolutely typical of this generation that they do not brag or boast in any way. For instance, it was only from other people and not from Norman himself that I discovered he’d been awarded the Distinguished Service Medal for the Palembang raid. Mike has done terrific work in making sure that their stories live for all time, without which they would be lost to history.”

The book’s publisher, Jenny Knowles of Little Knoll Press agreed. “I believe it’s important that these stories should be told, because history easily gets rewritten and it can’t be rewritten if it is truly from a memoir. These precious gentlemen, the clarity of their memories and the importance of the things that they remember really should be there for people to know about in the future and now.”

(There are links below to other books by Mike Roussel.).

For St Patrick’s Day an Irish story

letters-from-manchuriaLetters from Manchuria:  The story of Marion Young, missionary in Japanese-occupied China.
                                 edited by Neil T. Sinclair

Coming all the way from Manchuria in 1935, Marion Young’s Irish spirit of adventure and fun shines through, bringing this unique story to life.

 

Marion’s writing is lyrical without ever being pretentious and her sense of humour emerges even when her surroundings are quite grim, as does her delight in using a little Irish blarney, sometimes to get out of extremely risky situations.

Her story is full of suspense as well. The period of Japanese occupation was precarious for everyone and then with the start of the Second World War, the dangers for Westerners living in China escalated tenfold.

This hardback book is a fascinating read and full of photographs – well worth taking a look at.

 

Commonwealth Day 2018

CommonwealthToday, 12th March 2018, is COMMONWEALTH DAY, a day to celebrate the ties of friendship and practical cooperation between the Commonwealth of Nations.

The theme of this year’s Commonwealth Day is Towards a Common Future and the day of celebration will be followed by meetings between the heads of the 53 nations in the Commonwealth when they gather ‘to respond to global challenges, and deliver a more prosperous, secure, sustainable and fair future for all of our citizens, particularly our young people’.

The vision and commitment of these nations to work together goes back long before the forming of the Commonwealth, and it got me to thinking about the Holdsworth Mission Hospital in Mysore, South India, a hospital brought about more than a century ago by cooperation between people of the United Kingdom and India.

The HOLDSWORTH MEMORIAL HOSPITAL story:

view-of-hospital-late-1950s

Through the work of missionaries from the Methodist Missionary Society, notably Mary Holdsworth and the Rev George Sawday, and a gift of land by the Maharaja of Mysore, the Mary Calvert Holdsworth Memorial Hospital came into being in 1906 to serve the needs of women and children in Mysore city.

 

 

 

Dr-Elsie-Watts-&-Dr-Edith-Watts-at-a-patient's-home

It was a time when cholera, typhoid and plague were endemic, and there was nowhere for women and children to go for help. Holdsworth Hospital, also named ‘Karuna Shala’ (Home of Compassion), offered medical care to people of all creeds and castes, whatever their means.

 

 

CSI-inauguration-1947

 

The hospital grew in its work and established a nurses’ training school. In the late-1940s when the Church of South India was formed, Holdsworth Hospital, among other Methodist institutions, was handed over to the CSI, with the Methodist Missionary Society continuing to fund a number of doctors, nurses, pathologists and pharmacy staff during a time of transition of management into the hands of the Church of South India.

 

Frank,Winnie,-R&J-1951One of the Methodist missionary doctors was my father, Frank Ivor Tovey OBE FRCS, who arrived as a young surgeon in 1951. His first role was to open a men’s department, this being a requirement for nurse training to continue. He worked at Holdsworth Hospital for 16 years, during which time the hospital developed its work and became an Indian run institution.

My mother, Winifred Tovey, also supported the work of the hospital, working voluntarily, as was the case with many missionaries’ wives. She raised funds for special equipment and projects, obtaining grants and setting up leprosy clinics and the rehabilitation of leprosy patients, which resulted in a very low incidence of leprosy in the surrounding area.

Cor-Blimey-Where-ave-you-come-from

 

Years later, when she was in her 90s, Winnie wrote her book, Cor Blimey! Where ‘ave you come from? in which she describes the story of Holdsworth Hospital and the interesting times she experienced in Mysore through the 1950s and ‘60s.

Holdsworth-Hospital

 

Today the Holdsworth Hospital continues as the Home of Compassion, its dedicated staff still delivering the highest standard of care, although facing the same challenges of old buildings and a chronic lack of funds.

 

 

 

Listen to Winnie and Frank Tovey talking to Libby Purves on BBC Radio 4’s  ‘Midweek’ programme, 28th December 2011.