LOOKING at the diary for 2009 tells me that we’re in for a busy time with Six Spoons of Sugar but, then again, it’s been pretty hectic since we launched my WW11 evacuee book back in spring 2008.  And what a time that was!

Click here for pictures of the launch at Reading on September 26 2008

Click here to read the Reading Chronical review of the Reading launch (pdf format)

It was great to see men of the 101st Airborne, “Screaming Eagles” re-enactors group at the Reading Launch.  Captain Dave Allaway (second from left in the back row) and Staff Sergeant Shaun Bartlett (kneeling next to Lucy Holdsworth at the front) led the team.  They were all VERY popular with the girls!

Before we even went on the road, the book had impressed the people at Waterstones and we pencilled in the official launch at the Broad Street Branch on September 25 and it was so successful we repeated the event at Waterstones, Priory Walk, Hastings on October 16.  

We dressed each store with flags, Dig for Victory posters and artefacts such as WWll gas masks, helmets and miles of camouflage… but what a treat it was to see so many re-enactors from Wartime Britain come along and make both events such a success.  And at Hastings the Mayor, Maureen Charlesworth, paid us a visit (and bought her copy!) and our great leader Winston Churchill also popped in to wish us well!  Actually, it was Robert Easterbrook, and what a good Winston he proved to be, not forgetting “Clementine“his lovely wife, of course.

Hastings Mayor, Maureen Charlesworth gets Richard to sign her copy of Six Spoons closely watched by Winston and RAF re-enactor Richard Thomson.

Before the two Waterstones launches, of course, we were travelling the country  (well the south anyway) attending WWll events, putting up our little tent, folding out the fold-out table and chairs, and signing copies.  And talking to hundreds of people and answering questions, one after another. Many were evacuees just like me… And what tales you had to tell…

Then there are the children of today – many of whom are studying WWll at school – but have no idea what it was like to be evacuated… to be sent off from Mum and Dad back in the dark days of September 1939.  I’m told Six Spoons of Sugar has proved invaluable in helping children learn about the turning point in our country’s history.  Anyone who says children aren’t interested in the past should see their faces when they try on an ARP officer’s tin helmet or see what a real WWll gas mask is like.  “Did you really have to wear this, Mister?”

It all started at Littlecote in April, then onto the Rural Life Centre at Tilford near Farnham, Surrey (a great day out for the family) followed by the Watercress Line at War weekend… and what a wonderful time everyone had. This year’s event is over the weekend of June 13/14.

School children get into the spirit of being an evacuee. These children are enjoying the Watercress Line at War weekend.

Onto the huge Shoreham Air Show (we plan to be there again this year) and then the Brenzett Aero Museum August Fair at Romney Marsh, Kent. The Sunday of this weekend is where the Land Girls who were billeted at the air base during the war hold their reunion. And what tales they have to tell too.

We’d have done the Swindon & Letchlade Railway but it was a victim of the weather in 2008 – but we’ll be there in 2009 (September 12/13) and we are planning to do several other preserved railways’ events including the Kent & East Sussex Railway over the Wartime Weekend of May 16/17, Swindon & Letchlade Railway (September 12/13) and we’re hoping to bring Six Spoons to the Midlands at the Northampton & Lamport Railway, Railway at War Weekend, on September 26/27.

Coming up to Christmas we did one of several book signings at Chapter One book shop in Woodley shopping centre on the Saturday – then packed up and dashed over to Arborfield Army Museum for their open day on the Sunday… and what a great day that was.   

Six Spoons in talks.  I have been invited to give talks to groups of people of all ages and that includes schools where excited children have been all eyes and ears… I bring along the usual bits and pieces – Dig for Victory posters, flags, tin helmets and gas masks (of course).  And at some schools the children help unfold the camouflage… at one school we seemed to cover everything except the Head Mistress!  Great time had by all!

Six Spoons at your local library. Six Spoons is now on the shelves of many libraries around the country; in Berkshire from Wokingham in the east to Newbury in the west and throughout Sussex too.  Check with your local library and see if they have it on their shelves… and if they haven’t, ask why!

Six Spoons in Oz. Heather and I took the opportunity of our flying visit to Australia in January 2009 (Heather is a Melbourne girl) to bring Six Spoons of Sugar to Australian readers and this proved highly successful too. I was invited onto the ABC “Conversation Hour” for celebrities (!) and from that we appointed the prestigious Readings Books & Music book shop chain to handle Six Spoons “Down Under” while the Shrine of Remembrance in Melbourne is also stocking the book.  Please see “How to Buy” to get your hands on Six Spoons in Australia.

Six Spoons in the USA.  There are plans to visit our friends in the States some time in 2009 so we can bring the book personally to the many who have expressed an interest in reading what it was like for your men over here in England at that crucial time.  Don’t forget that some of the men of the 101st Airborne “Screaming Eagles” were billeted in my village before parachuting into Normandy on D-Day and, of course, they feature strongly in the pages.  “Got any gum, chum?”  I am sure the veterans remember us village kids pestering with that perennial question every time they stepped into the village.  And, in fairness, they never let us down!

Managing Director of Readings Books & Music in Melbourne, Mark Rubbo, seems pleased to be selling Six Spoons.

Six Spoons on the road in 2009. Here are some of the events we have provisionally pencilled in for the coming year.  There may be more as invitations come in… and PLEASE check beforehand to make sure we will be in attendance.  We do look forward to meeting you and reminiscing.

• April 4/5.  Forties Family Experience Weekend, Bushey Hall Drive, Bushey, Herts. WD23 2ES.

• May 3  Abingdon Air & Country Show, Abingdon Airfield, Oxon.

• May 9/10.  Tilford Village at War, Rural Life Centre, Farnham, Surrey.

• May 16/17.  Kent & East Sussex Railway 1940’s Weekend Tenterden – Bodiam.

• June 13/14.  Watercress Line at War, Mid Hants Railway, Alton – Alresford,  Hampshire.

• June 27/28.  Wartime in the Vale of Evesham, Ashdown Camp, Evesham, Worcestershire.

• July 4. Arborfield Garrison Open Day, Wokingham, Berkshire.

• July 19.  Tangmere Military Aviation Museum, Nr Chichester, West Sussex.

• July 26.  War & Peace Show, Paddock Wood, Kent. Sunday only (although show is from July 22- 26) Richard will be signing Six Spoons on the new WWll Re-enactors magazine stand..

• August 15/16.  Brenzett Aero Museum Country Fair & Museum, Romney Marsh, Kent.

• August 22/23  RAFA Shoreham Airshow, Shoreham Airport, Nr Brighton, West Sussex.

• September 12/13.  Swindon & Letchlade Railway – Wartime Weekend, Blundsdon Station, Swindon.

• September 26/27.  Northampton & Lamport Railway – Railway at War, Chapel Brampton, Northampton.

Alice Racher is one of the wonderful girls who joined the Womens’ Land Army and helped our farmers feed the Nation in our time of need.  Richard was delighted to meet her during the 2008 Brenzett August weekend – and doesn’t he look pleased…

If you want a pair of genuine nylons you can always count on Viv the Spiv despite the austerity of war years and clothes rationing. Heather seems impressed!  This was at Twickenham Big Band Ball December 2008 – but Viv attends most WWll functions.

Captured at the Watercress Line in 2008.  Jo and Rowena… they’ll be back in 2009 looking just as good!

Our friends, Arthur and Lesley, Blitz & Peaces provide so much of the entertainment at the WWll events we go to.  And don’t they do it well?!

Aussie Rules footie star, Adam Pattison, dropped in to Readings Books on launch day to see what all the fuss was about. Big lad isn't he? What's more he says he loves the book!

School children enjoy hearing all about being an evacuee... and trying on gas masks and tin helmets! Here we are at Upcroft School, Tilehurst, Reading. Didn't we have a great day kids??!