This is a 2022 update on the story of the Queen’s Oak at Hurley Lock. In 2014, I was in the UK following the launch of my book on the Thames Path, held at Marlow Library. Everyone was so kind and generous, especially as I was an
Read more →ALL ALONG THE RIVER: TALES FROM THE THAMES was released on July 31 by London publisher Robert Hale. Rob and I celebrated with lunch at the Show Boat, moored by the river at the Harleyford estate just outside Marlow. It was owning a lodge in this glorious
Read more →
TRAVELLING ALONG THE THAMES PATH Apart from Harleyford and Marlow, Thames locations with which I have a close personal association, Reading features unusually heavily in my book, All Along the River; Tales From the Thames. Here is a little extract. Copy from the book is in black,
Read more →One of the difficulties I found in writing a book about the river Thames was making those really hard decisions about what should go in! So much history…..so much intrigue and scandal. Naturally I was tempted to include far too much about my beloved Harleyford Estate at
Read more →
Hello….Editor Des here, with a story about BRADMAN! 🏏 Well until the dreaded virus it was all sport, sport, sport in our household. So I thought I would write a piece about a famous cricketer! By the way, the local coach once told me that I had
Read more →THE GENESIS OF THE LAUNCH I hadn’t considered a separate launch for The Water Doctor’s Daughters in Australia, but a few months ago a generous offer came from Sydney’s Ashfield Library to do a book signing. It was to be part of their very popular ‘Authors
Read more →THE SOOTHING LINIMENT THAT COULD LEAD TO DEATH There is a chapter in my true crime book The Water Doctor’s Daughters titled; AS EASY AS ABC. The letters are a reference to a popular 19th century rubbing liniment made from three powerful, but potentially fatal compounds;
Read more →One of the true joys of writing narrative non-fiction is visiting all the places associated with the story. Of course the research for my book, The Water Doctor’s Daughters, took me to Paris (such a chore..ha ha) Hastings and St Leonards, Malvern and Cheltenham. Accompanied by
Read more →Hello, this is Editor Des back from the West Country of Olde England. I’ve chosen this little piece because I liked the story Pauline told me about the nursery rhyme and the 15th century cathedral clock at Exeter. I’m sure you know you how it goes;
Read more →There is such a strong link between Christmas and bells. Images of them adorn our trees and greeting cards, and the faithful are summoned to church by them on Christmas morning. I wasn’t sure whether to post this article as history or humour, but the humour is
Read more →