The Eastbourne Dickens Fellowship has shown us that practice … · 2019. 1. 17. · The 2010...

The 2010 Eastbourne Dickens Fellowship ConferencePhoto Essay by Herb Moskovitz

Friends of Dickens, New York City

The Eastbourne Dickens Fellowship has shown us that practice makes perfect.

Eastbourne has hosted seven annual conferences, the most any branch has hosted,

and this year they gave us a perfect conference.

Many of the activities were centered in the Chatsworth Hotel and the Mansion Hotel,

which was next door to the Chatsworth; two Victorian beauties overlooking the English

Channel.

The Electronic Buzfuz - A Dickens Newsletter

1 of 14 11/11/2010 8:47 PM

This is the Chatsworth.

The opening reception on Wednesday, July 21, was highlighted by a visit by the Lady

Mayor of Eastbourne, Councillor Carolyn Heaps. She promised fireworks afterwards,

accompanied by a band playing the 1812 Overture and she delivered. All because

Dickens was born in 1812, no doubt.


2 of 14 11/11/2010 8:47 PM

On Thursday, July 22nd, we went to Dickens World in Chatham. Street theatre,

animatronic figures, 4D cinema, Dickensian ghosts and a thrilling boat ride are

highlights of this Dickensian experience. The proprietors conferred with members of the

Dickens Fellowship, especially Thelma Grove, so they got all the Dickens facts and

figures correct.

After our time in Dickens World we went to Gad’s Hill Place, where we had tea and a

tour of the building that was once Dickens’s home. The school is building a new school

building and Dickens’s home will become a museum.

Herb Moskovitz from the Friends of Dickens in New York was thrilled to visit the

Dickensian and Shakespearean site again. (photo by Maggie de Vos.)


3 of 14 11/11/2010 8:47 PM

President Grahame Smith gave his keynote speech after dinner. (All of the meals were

scrumptious.)

Gerald Dickens and Liz Hayes performed scenes from childhood, combining selected

Dickens’ writings about children and Robert Schumann’s Kinderszenen on Thursday

evening.

Following three excellent lectures on Friday, July 23rd, we traveled to Pevensey where


4 of 14 11/11/2010 8:47 PM

we saw the ruins of a Roman Fort that dated from about AD 290, and built on top of

that, a Norman Castle, built by William the Conqueror in 1066.

Here we see Cathy Thompson and Lee Ault from Canterbury, exploring the historical

site.

After also touring a 12th century church and a 16

th century courthouse and jail we had

tea at the Castle Cottage Tea Room.


5 of 14 11/11/2010 8:47 PM

Mike and Su Quinn, Barbara Zimmerman from New York and Herbert Savory from

Durham all enjoyed the treats.


6 of 14 11/11/2010 8:47 PM

On Friday evening, the entertainment was a Magic Lantern show, given by John

Burgess and his wife, Thelma. The highlight of the evening was a slide show of Martin

Chuzzlewit.

Following the AGM and an excellent lecture by Tony Pointon we traveled to Brighton on

Saturday to see the Royal Pavillion.


7 of 14 11/11/2010 8:47 PM

Jens, Birgitte and Mikkel Lund from Denmark are joined by Professor Michael Slater

from Central.


8 of 14 11/11/2010 8:47 PM

Geoff and Joan Dicks from Central rest after touring the massive building.

The annual Banquet was held Saturday evening. At the head table were Professor

Michael Slater, Angela Smith, President Grahame Smith, Lee Ault, Michael Rogers and

Thelma Grove. Professor Slater gave the Toast to the Immortal Memory.


9 of 14 11/11/2010 8:47 PM

Michael Rogers was amused by a plastic piggy bank with Mr Micawber’s famous quote

about money printed on its side. All the delegates received piggy banks.

Mary Jane Mallonee from Friends of Dickens in New York asked Michael Slater to

sign her copy of his new critically hailed biography of Charles Dickens.


10 of 14 11/11/2010 8:47 PM

Following three more excellent lectures on Sunday morning, we traveled by open top

bus to Beachy Head, the highest point along the coast with much history to tell. The

winds and changing weather will be remembered for a long time.

The entertainment after our Traditional English Sunday Lunch (but served at dinner

time) was led by Romy McCabe and Cliff Bendall.


11 of 14 11/11/2010 8:47 PM

Malcolm Andrews and Allan Clack from Central, and Tony Pointon and Sue Healey from


12 of 14 11/11/2010 8:47 PM

Portsmouth, added to the mirth.

At the end of the evening, Joint Honorary General Secretary Lee Ault thanked Maggie

de Vos for all the hard work she did that led to such a successful conference.

Herbert Savory from Durham closed the evening with a funny poem written especially

for the conference, with Chris Mcloughlin translating it so that the delegates could

understand it.


13 of 14 11/11/2010 8:47 PM

-- By Herb Moskovitz

Friends of Dickens, New York City


14 of 14 11/11/2010 8:47 PM

The Eastbourne Dickens Fellowship has shown us that practice … · 2019. 1. 17. · The 2010...

Documents

Transcript of The Eastbourne Dickens Fellowship has shown us that practice … · 2019. 1. 17. · The 2010...