Monthly Archives: March 2012

Reading and Cricket

I am reading a book that has come my way: SLIPLESS IN SETTLE. It is a cricket book, and, as a keen cricketer, is of special interest to me. It is by Harry Pearson. Now a coincidence – my father was friendly with a Harry Pearson – they both played cricket for Middlesbrough. No it’s not the same Harry Pearson. The time gap is too great. My Harry was a family friend. I still have books about Robin Hood he bought me – I had moved from wanting to be Peter Pan to wanting to be Robin Hood, then later I wanted to be as good a cricketer as Hedley Verity, the heir-apparent to that other great Yorkshire cricketer Wilfred Rhodes.  Those of you who know cricket will realise that I am ‘getting on a bit.’  Now back to this book. This Harry Pearson is taking a ‘slow turn around Northern Cricket.’ He is visiting matches in the Northern Leagues and brings into each game interesting and unusual facts from the past and present and mixes serious comment with good humour, making it all a pleant journry especially for me.  He visits Guisborough when they are playing Blackhall. He cannot mention Blackhall without mentioning their outstanding professional Jack Carr  from the 1930s. Even though I was still a schoolboy at the time, I remember him and his reputation in the North Yorkshire and South Durham League. My brother, playing for Middlesbrough, played against him. My brother was 11 years older than me (age gap again) and had a fine reputation as a bowler in that League so much so that he was picked in the League’s team to play against the full Yorkshire team of the 1930s. He opened the bowling to Herbert Sutcliffe, of the Hobbs and Sutcliffe England partnership. He bowled a maiden over to the great batsman who congratulted him on such a fine over. Ah, the memories that are recalled by reading a book. I could go on but you’ve probably read enough now. I’ll take up this theme again soon. 

 

 

Writing, Susan Hill, Lincolnshire, RAF, Piatkus, Jessica Blair

Having finished my latest novel and emailed it to my publisher I took three weeks away from serious writing, although the idea for my next novel was forming in my mind. An outline for that will soon be going off to my publisher with the hope that my publisher will like the idea and commission it as they have done with all my Jessica Blair novels.

During those three weeks my twin daughters visited me and we went to the Railway Museum in York. The last time I was there was shortly after it opened way, way back(daren’t think how long ago). Over the years it has expanded, and buildings improved, an art gallery introduced, an excellent shop, and very good dining. It made a most enjoyable day and, not having seen everything, another visit will take place some time.

I also visited my eldest daughter in Humberston in North Lincolnshire. While there we went to the cinema to see The  Woman In Black, adapted for the screen from Susan Hill’s novel of the same name. I was keen to see it as I am a fan of Susan Hill and this novel is one of my favourites.  Both my daughter and I thought they had done a very good job of transferring it to the big screen. I also met a special friend for lunch at the Petwood Hotel in Woodall Spa. This hotel was taken over by the RAF during the war and was used as the Officers’ Mess. 617 Squadron (The Dambusters) were here, so there is memorablia and atmosphere. Lincolnshire has an important place in my heart. Apart from two of my daughters, and special friends living there, it has war-time memories for me. During the war I served as a Bomb-aimer with 44 Squadron, Bomber Command and did most of my flying out of Lincolnshire, so naturally, for all these reasons, it has a special place in my heart. 

Now I will have to get on with developing my new novel. Once again it will be written under the name of JESSICA BLAIR, has have all my  last 22 novels published by PIATKUS an imprint of the LITTLE BROWN BOOK GROUP.