Clacton Arts & Literary Society

Archive for the ‘Reviews’ Category

Captain Wells was born in New Zealand but spent his working life
in Great Britain and various places in the Middle East.

His lecture was divided into two parts, the first being a history
of the Port of London from Roman times to the present day.   This was a truly
interesting picture of London especially when photographs were available to
compare the great docks of the late 1800s to the present day use, such as Canary
Wharf and the City Airport.
After the interval, Captain Williams told us many
tales of his adventures in piloting ships in the Thames Estuary up to London
illustrated with pictures of some of the enormous ships he had handled
successfully and delightful anecdotes about awkward ships’ captains who resented
the pilot on the bridge.    It was a truly happy evening which was enjoyed by
everyone.

The evening was sponsored by Reader Offers Ltd of Colchester

Audrey Owens  Press Officer

Everyone thought that Jill Morrell`s moving account of her time before, during and after John Mc Carthy`s abduction and subsequent imprisonment for five years in Beirut, was superb.

She spoke with great conviction and is further proof that under tremendous pressure, the human spirit can survive-it was a shame that if finally resulted in them parting some time after being re-united.

Both their lives were irrevocably changed by this huge event and they were no longer the carefree couple they were before this happened.

Knowing her many connections within the media, I personally felt that the evening would have benefitted from some `stills` and a selection of the mass of video and television coverage given at the time-however, the evening was yet another very entertaining and tot ally engrossing event.

Jennifer Kersey 25-10-2011

The second presentation by the Arts and Literary Society brought Jill Morrell to the  Princes Theatre to give us her side of the John McCarthy story.  Members had heard from John, himself, last year and were anxious to know more.

The programme started with a film about John McCarthy ending with his release on 8 August 1991. Jill, then, related her very moving story of her feelings when he was kidnapped and of the many friends who helped her establish the Friends of John McCarthy and all the efforts they made to keep his name before the public despite the complete disapproval of the Foreign Office.

She spoke of her journeys to meet the various other hostages who had been released and learned that John was alive.   However, the Foreign Office did not believe them.   It was the release of Brian Keenan who had actually been with John in Beirut which got reaction from the Foreign Office and led to his eventual release.

It was not a story with a happy ending as the years of struggle led to the eventual parting of John and Jill in 1994 after they had written ‘Some Other Rainbow’  together.   The parting was amicable and John later married.  Jill now works for  various charities including the Macmillan Cancer Support and with the British  Lung Foundation.

The evening was sponsored by members of the Society,Mrs Freda Leech and her daughter and son-in-law, Meryl and Peter Brown.

Audrey Owens  Press Officer

Move over Mrs Markham.-Aldeburgh theatre 20/8/2011 Seeing Janet Rodwell moving down the coach as we sped on our way towards Aldeburgh, handing out tickets (not parking ones, thankfully!) reminded me of the days when, before we had the luxury of the motor car, the conductress would do the same on the omnibus –the whirr of her little machine as it churned out the paper ,printed with the time and destination on them. `Ah, this lady goes back a long way!!? We arrived with plenty of time to look around this delightful town which has (mercy be!) changed little over the years. After a stroll down the high street and along the promenade when some of us saw the now famous `shell on the beach`-we returned for a `cuppa` at the tea rooms and then made our way to the theatre for the early evening performance. The weather had started to become inclement (we were so lucky-it had been fine for almost all of the day) but our spirits were soon lifted as we took our seats and the production started. A fast paced `farce` in the old traditional sense with plenty of not too discreet theatrical references about extra marital affairs, plenty of `trouser dropping` and false scolding with much slamming of doors, the supposed `lovers` avoiding each other by seconds –superbly executed –the production timing(so important in this type of presentation)was impeccable. Alan Ainger told me parts of it were too fast for him (as I boarded the coach afterwards)-“I replied, with theatrical weariness and a wicked glint in my eye, that Sonia(sitting quietly at his side)would explain the finer details later over a cup of cocoa and a bun, in a darkened room-`kindly move over a little, Mrs Ainger!!` Another super trip, planned with the precision we have now become accustomed too-all involved are to be commended yet again. Jennifer Kersey.

“It`s only a bit of fun…………”, words uttered so often by the charismatic `Captain` Tom Hart Dyke as we `sailed` on his exciting voyage around his world garden!
The day had started with weather that can only be described as gloomy, overcast, moody- just `constipated`, wanting to absolutely pour down and drench us travellers-but it never did-just threatened-a day for travelling and sightseeing made in Heaven!
After another wonderful coach journey through the lush Essex countryside, we crossed the Queen Elizabeth bridge with its dizzy heights and panoramic views, into the `orchard county` of Kent.

After a lunchtime stopover at the delightful town of Seven Oaks we proceeded towards our planned destination.
Soon we were near and our `leader` pointed out the fields of Lavender-I was fascinated by the neat, long rows- they looked like giant, symmetrical, mono coloured pipes that had been laid side by side. After negotiating what was an extremely tight turn, by a rather quaint little cottage that could have easily been featured on a chocolate box, we arrived at Lullingstone Castle.
Our guide, a very knowledgeable fella called Philip-from `over the pond`(no, not America-Ireland!)had definitely `kissed the Blarney stone`-their was more than a hint of typical Irish banter as he started off on our conducted tour of the home and little church in the grounds. It was interesting to note that just outside the ancient `Keep`(where Tom still lives-we could see his digital television aerial and no doubt his satellite dish was surreptitiously hidden from view!)is the old highway to London(just a track)where, no doubt, Queen Anne travelled many times in her carriage as she came from the city to enjoy the rustic delights of this location.

After the conducted tour of the church and house, we were told that Tom was waiting anxiously to give us his own personal tour of his `creation`-planned during the time when he was held hostage in a far off land and needed something to take his mind off the fact that at any juncture his captives could have killed him.
`Granny`(who `sewed` his initial inspiration as a boy with a packet of seeds)now sadly demised, was ever present(if only in spirit)-her influence in this endeavour will be there always-Tom was ever eager to point out her mighty contribution and somewhat strange habits-including her riding her `trusty steed( bike) until she was 94, with it stuck in the high derailleur gear!
So close was their relationship that she had the dwelling in the other side of the `keep`-his parents live in part of the stately home.
In a nearby field was the location for the wooden mock planes that were placed so as to draw enemy attention and fire from the important aerodrome of Biggin Hill during world war two.
I don’t think  have EVER met anyone with such genuine `joie de vivre`-he breathlessly showed off proudly  `his baby`-reeling off Latin names in abundance-he had even counted the number of plants in his newly created  `cactus den-`hot and prickly` especially to tell us about it!
A very handsome, articulate person whose company we all enjoyed very much.
In one section(under plastic cover) there was a `jungle atmosphere`, complimented, we were informed ,by a CD playing suitable sounds-Don Bishop said he really needed a machete to get through it-I retorted that the next movie film  for `bridge on the river Kwai, revisited again` could easily be filmed here!
`Lord and lady Baines`(sounds like it should be so-I`ll definitely recommend them for knighthoods next time I`m having a cuppa with the Queen!!) had again meticulously planned this tour with military precision and after a chance to buy some of the lovely florae from the small garden shop, we were again on the road, eagerly awaiting our stop at Thurrock services for a welcoming `cuppa`, before returning home in the early evening.
Yet another triumph for Clacton `Arts and Lits`-I look forward to the next outing!

Jennifer Kersey.