Clacton Arts & Literary Society

Archive for January, 2010

Tom Hart Dyke – By Jennifer Kersey 

`Was he for real-or was this some surrealistic dream we were all participating in?`
I refer to the presentation given by Tom Hart Dyke.
Right from the outset when he enthusiastically endorsed this unknown mentor and we anxiously awaited to find out who it was-the tension was breathtaking-then, with a rousing chant he exposed her as his 96 year old `granny` who had given him some rather insignificant gardening aid for his third birthday!
`Wow, this was some orator`-even though I(as did others) struggled to keep up with the incessant flow of words-no wonder his kidnappers somewhere in the jungle location of Panama were glad to get rid of him-he turned the tables on them and literally talked them senseless (then having the sheer cheek to return and ask them for a map,`cos he was lost!)
Stopping only briefly to invite us to join in the `granny` chant, after the interval (we all needed this break!) he went on to describe how, at the point of threatened death by his kidnappers, whilst his also condemned friend, in the next hut was praying, he was designing a `world` garden(for his domicile back in sleepy Kent)he had in mind,where trees and shrubs would be representative of their native land!
`Phew`,I cannot think what I would have been doing-perhaps checking my make up to ensure that,if I was to be shot,at least I looked presentable-most definitely NOT making notes in an old school scrapbook!?
The only thing in the evening that slightly spoilt it for me, was the occasional use of that disgusting Americanism -`Guy`(many have surrendered to this constant erosion of our beautiful language(with this and other sayings) and it has now become an appendage for people of BOTH sexes-let anyone even dare to call me a guy and I do assure you, they will be sorry!) -particularly when he referred to God as `the Guy up above.`
However, I can forgive him, looking at the `bigger picture`-it was a most entertaining evening, and if you, like me, do not know anything about horticultural matters, you were no doubt caught up in the sheer vitality of this speaker, and how he lovingly spoke with genuine adoration,of the images in his presentation.
What a wonderful evening-it made up for the fact I could not attend last week because of transport problems.
Well done again to all concerned.

Jennifer Kersey

The Arts and Literary Society were treated to an evening of horticultural madness when a thoroughly enthusiastic and garrulous young man, Tom Hart Dyke, regaled the story of his life in plants.   It started with his grandmother giving him seeds to plant at the age 3 at his home in Lullingstone Castle and the gift of a greenhouse when he was 13.  He progressed to travelling the world seeking orchids and other specimens.  Of course, the major part of his story concerned his capture and kidnap in the Darien Gap.   His account of these months was both harrowing and amusing but the very real terror was still apparent when he spoke about it.

Later on he showed us pictures of his wonderful and incredible world garden which he has created at Lullingstone Castle.   This garden was designed when in captivity during the few hours left before he was to be executed.  Fortunately, this did not happen and so this wonderful garden is there for anyone to see.   The plants and trees are placed in the country of their origin and are growing magnificently despite the eccentricities of the English climate, although some have to be dug up and put in glasshouses during the winter and replanted in the Spring.

This was a very different evening and thoroughly enjoyed by the audience and the sponsors Normal and Neill (Optometrists) of Clacton on Sea.

                                                            Audrey Owens

                                                                Press Officer

Christopher Langdown – By Douglas Carpenter -   An evening of piano classics with ‘Beethoven and Beyond’. Was attend by around 200 brave soles (because of the snow) who enjoyed a grand (excuse the pun) evening of Piano music. This included one of his own composition Deo Omnis Gloria – lovely flowing music Christopher to his credit managed to get here from way beyond, hope he got back OK!