An amazing weekend.
Barbara Large, suggested that I bring the charity Words for the Wounded which raises money for the rehabilitation of wounded service personnel through writing prizes, to Winchester Writers' Conference 2013. So the 4 'man' team embarked wearing T shirts bearing the legend Give us a flash ... 400 word limit. Some were more keen than others on the wording! Barbara is a valued patron of ours and we are just so grateful to all at Winchester Writers' Conference for the opportunity to tout our wares. I was teaching and speaking there so the team, Tracy Baines, Penny Deacon and Matt Pain, our founders team had to hold the fort but quite frankly, it was a fantastic experience for them, and me.
We had a fantastic day yesterday. Lt Ian Thornton, one of our Words for the Wounded patrons rounded off the plenary speaker's hour. And what a triumph. Tears in the audience and the heartening news of his family's charity, the John Thornton's Young Achievers Foundation, created as a lasting legacy and in honour of Ian's younger brother John, who died in Afghan. Ian has put together Helmand: Diaries of Front-line soldiers published by Osprey and it's flying off the shelves. Ian talked of his brother, the charity, the diaries and Words for the Wounded. He was magnificent. He perfectly complemented Julian and Emma Fellowes discussion. Julian as always so erudite and amusing, and Emma so intelligent and charming. A glorious hour.
Barbara had suggested we had a collection for W4W so we rattled buckets like crazy as people left the Stripe auditorium and then retired to our charity table. Penny Deacon, Tracy Baines and Matt Pain took up position and I came and went, as I had speaking commitments. We wore T shirts 'Give us a flash... up to 400 words' Can't say we looked elegant but it was fun.
We raised over nearly £300 from the generous delegates. How amazing people are to dip their hands in their pockets in difficult times but our wounded servicemen need all the help they can get, and made lots of contacts. Great stuff.
So, home now. T shirt put away for now, but not for long. We have many plans in the pipeline so are rolling up our sleeves and getting ready to get down to it all again.
I have been invited by Caroline Redman Lusher, founder of Rock Choir to go to the Rock Choir 02 Concert on 6th July. There will be a write up on Words for the
