(2001) highlights:-

"Three poets at Wroxeter"

This event was held on June 16th 2001 and  the turnout was exceptional. This may have been due to increased publicity this year and Gladys Mary Coles's appearance on Radio Shropshire. The event kicked off with a talk and slide show  by Dr Roger White about  the various excavations at Wroxeter particularly during the life time of the three poets. This set the scene for the tour of the  atmospheric site with readings by the three Societies, Mary Webb, Wilfred Owen Association and the Housman Society. Next year's event will be hosted by the Wilfred Owen Association  where we are told we will be treated to a "trench lunch"....can't wait.!

Summer School 2001

The Summer School was held on 16th and 17th June at The Gateway, Shrewsbury. The Gateway centre is an ideal venue as it is centrally located and accessible by train. It is also a lively, stimulating place with many courses and exhibitions on offer.
The programme for the weekend was as follows;
Saturday
Mary Webb and the First World War: Influences on her writing           Gladys Mary Coles
War and Peace - Edith Pargeter in the 1940s                                         Margaret Lewis
The Echoing Green .. The Biography of Mary Webb expressed in poetry by Dr Gladys Mary Coles from her latest volume of poetry "The Land Within"
7.30pm . Meet again at Mary Webb library Bayston Hill where Gladys Mary will officially open the newly refurbished Mary Webb garden.

Sunday
Focus on Precious Bane by Gladys Mary Coles
A talk on the various dramatisations of Precious Bane with excerpts from the BBCproduction of 1989
Gideon Sarn - Villain or Victim? - Prosecution and defence in the case ofGideon Sarn. Prosecution led by Gladys Mary Coles and defence led by GordonDickins.

The Summer School was well attended and we welcomed several new faces. The morning lectures focused on the period of the First World War both in the life of Mary Webb and that of Edith Pargeter / Ellis Peters, creator of Brother Cadfael.
Gladys Mary  gave a very moving account of this  productive period of Mary Webb's life against a well researched background of the parallel events of the war.
Margaret Lewis gave fascinating insights into the life of Edith Pargeter including extracts from her little known war books and from personal letters from Edith Pargeter to Margaret Lewis. There was definitely more to this very talented writer than Brother Cadfael.
"The Echoing Green" by Gladys Mary is a superbly crafted, evocative  piece  in which she expresses the life of Mary Webb in poetry. This is GMCat her best.
The evening event at Bayston Hill library was wonderfully organised by library staff, in particular Wendy Davis and the Friends of Bayston Hill library. The memorial garden to our late vice president Dorothy Wrenn had been superbly refurbished in true "Ground Force" style. Gladys Mary officially cut the ribbon with shears and we were all allowed to view the improvements. The garden looks much more interesting and the Mary Webb theme has been maintained. Plants spell out the name of Mary Webb - how inventive! The evening was rounded off with readings from members and a chance to view the web site on the library computer.
Sunday's events focused on Precious Bane and the dramatisations it inspired. The highlight of the morning was a chance to see extracts from the very popular (if this web site is anything to go by) BBC production  starring Janet McTeer and Clive Owen. The Gateway's audio-visual equipment allowed us to see this projected onto the big screen for the first time. All agreed that we should show it in full .. soon.
The most entertaining element of the Summer School must go to the Trial of Gideon Sarn .
The case for the prosecution was presented most ably by the learned GMC and it seemed obvious that Gideon must be found guilty for all his crimes. However, the case for the defence presented by Gordon Dickins (a little tongue in cheek) cast doubt on the character of Prue as someone who had "strange experiences in the attic" and was wont to fabricate letters and consort with dubious company."Judge Wynford Wyke" in his summing up asked the jury not to be swayed by media pressureso that Gideon could have a fair trial. The surprising verdict was"Not Guilty"...No doubt the discussion will rumble on.
What a superb Summer School, stimulating lectures, good company and goodfood.Roll on next year!

Exhibition of MW at the Guildhall Much Wenlock

A permanent display case features the Life of MW in and around Much Wenlock. The display board is of a very high quality and we must thank Jonathan Moor, the curator for his enthusiasm and support for the project. The panel was designed by Liz Stamps and produced by David Salter, design team, Shropshire County Council.  The display case is a permanent feature. Do go and see it.

          Birthday Lunch

This was held on 24th March 2001 at The Silvester Horne Institute, Church Stretton. The committee made the decision to go ahead with the event despite the Foot and Mouth crisis but to remain in Church Stretton and to cancel our planned coach trip to Snailbeach. To remain in the town was in accordance with MAFF and County Council advice. The lunch was provided  by a local caterer, The Stables Restaurant, new to the Society  but we were all impressed by the high quality fare.

As the proposed talk on the "Never on a Sunday" project had to be cancelled, several people ably filled the breach and provided a varied and entertaining programme for the 30+ members gathered.

The most incredible contribution came from Gladys Mary Coles who revealed the contents of an account by an American MW pilgrim who visited Shropshire in 1928 within the first year of Mary's death. The account gives details of the writer's correspondence with Henry Webb, her stay with Mrs Thorne and  most delightful of all, a description of the interior of Spring Cottage. This was a rare treat and the audience was spellbound.

Gordon Dickins followed on with a superb slide show of the Shropshire landscape which we were unable to visit this time.

Percy Tarbuck, a long standing member and native of Church Stretton gave an all too brief account of his moment of stardom as Cyril Cusack's double in the film  Gone to Earth. More please Percy!
 

Refurbishment of the grave 

The Society has recently funded the refurbishment of Mary Webb's grave in Shrewsbury cemetery.The restoration work was expertly carried out by Mr Burrows of Shrewsbury. Pictured left to right are Gladys Mary Coles, Mr Burrows, Pat Spilsburyand Sue Higginbotham.
 

If anyone has any  news please email details to lizstamps@yahoo.co.uk