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Re: Enid Blyton Day 2012

Posted: 11 May 2012, 18:48
by Moonraker
Tony Summerfield wrote:I'm very envious, Julie, I'm still 60 miles from Twyford and will remain so until tomorrow morning! It will be the first time my car has been out of Salisbury for a year and a half, so I'm a little apprehensive. I still think a sunny afternoon in my garden is a tempting option! :lol:
So do I! Never fear, we will be traversing the same route behind you, so will be on the look out for you should the unfortunate happen! We might have to return in tandem, as I believe both cars will be loaded with goods!

Re: Enid Blyton Day 2012

Posted: 11 May 2012, 21:02
by Viv of Ginger Pop
Picnic - I've packed plates, cups, cutlery, bin bags etc :lol:

Viv

Re: Enid Blyton Day 2012

Posted: 11 May 2012, 22:07
by Daisy
We've just had a most enjoyable evening having a meal with Julie and Stephen at the Bird in Hand where we are staying tonight. See you all in the morning!

Re: Enid Blyton Day 2012

Posted: 11 May 2012, 23:22
by Pippa-Stef
Fiona and I have just finished our making and sandwich making activities for this evening after our dinner. We should be all set for tomorrow with supplies and things.

Now off to bed because some of us are setting ups chairs tomorrow morning, and I've had such a busy few days I'll be lucky to sleep through only one of my alarms in the morning.

Just waiting for Fiona to finish straighening her hair so we can go to sleep. Oh and make the beds. However, picnic supplies complete.

Can't wait to see you all tomorrow, however if I'm half asleep all day, please forgive me? :lol:

Re: Enid Blyton Day 2012

Posted: 12 May 2012, 07:43
by Francis
I've pinned my "Timmy" badge on and am ready to roll! The weather looks
lovely and sunny - the magic of Enid Blyton!

Re: Enid Blyton Day 2012

Posted: 12 May 2012, 08:37
by Laura
Just popping in to say that I hope that everyone has a great day - I shall think of you all having fun as I'm busy doing an exam this afternoon! Hope the weather stays good, as well.

Re: Enid Blyton Day 2012

Posted: 12 May 2012, 10:13
by number 6
Yes, have fun everyone. Hope you all have a great day!! :D

Re: Enid Blyton Day 2012

Posted: 12 May 2012, 20:54
by Lucky Star
Well I've just got home from another superb EBS Day. The sun came out and shone for the first time in about two weeks as if it too was excited by the coming events. I arrived in Lodden Hall about 11 o clock and promptly met Anita, Eddie, Chick and Daisy. We soon fell into conversation and then I quickly met Lenoir and Julie also. It was wonderful to see all the familiar faces again in that marvellous setting.

I took a browse around the bookstalls which were filled to bursting with hundreds of old, rare, beautiful books and memorabilia. We were soon all absorbed in browsing, indeed several stalls had almost got queues formed at them.

At 12 Norman Wright called us to sit down and welcomed us. The first speaker was Sarah Lawrence from the Seven Stories organisation who gave us a fascinating overview of what Seven Stories does and then got onto an in depth discussion of the Blyton archive that they recently acquired. This was accompanied by some mouthwatering pictures of old manuscripts etc and everyone was most enthused when she told us of the new Blyton exhibition they have planned for 2013.

Next up was Jon Appleton from Hodder who have just taken over the Enid Blyton brand from Chorion. He was very positive and upbeat about the future of Enid's catalogue and, as Pam Alley was to say later, I think it is probably in good hands.

Lunch break followed and more chattinmg and browsing. I bought a couple of nice books and a couple of Tony's reprinted booklets and saw some brisk business going on around the stalls. Then Georgina Hargreaves got up and entertained us with a wonderful presentation of drawings and anecdotes from her long career as an illustrator. She was truly funny and a great success. A final book browse and then Pam Alley got up to give us a fascinating journey through the history of Darrell Waters PLC, Enid BLyton LTD and Chorion. The history of the business side of the Blyton world. Pam has probably forgotten more than the average Blyton fan will ever know about those days and it was great to hear such a personal story.

As always it seemed that the day was over almost before it had begun. The hall was quickly cleared and then we piled into cars to head off to the picnic. We arrived at Dinton Pastures and found ourselves a wonderful spot to lay out a spread that the Famous Five themselves would have had trouble demolishing. Sausages, pies, sandwiches, cakes, macaroons, jam tarts, biscuits, crisps.... you name it, it was there. And yes, it was all washed down with lashings of ginger beer. Many thanks to Eddie and Chick for giving me a lift there and back. In the car we briefly abandoned Blyton for a good old Rock n Roll discussion and I have a great new CD to listen to courtesy of Eddie. :D

It was great to see many old friends including Anita, Tony, Eddie and Chick, Nigel and Jane, Julie and Stephen, Viv and Rosie, Wolfgang, Sue Webster, Pippa Stef, Zoe, Daisy, David Cook and Shadow and to meet great new friends like Lenoir, 7up, Fiona, Katherine, Francis, Sally and Faraway Tree. I've probably forgotten several people; my apologies if so. It was all such a whirlwind of faces and chats.

Special thanks as ever go to Tony for his superb organising of the whole event. It ran as smoothly as it always does, the speakers were varied and interesting, the atmosphere was jolly and lighthearted and everyone thoroughly enjoyed themselves. It is a rare gift to be able to make so many people come from so far away and all to have a wonderful time and it was much appreciated by all.

There will no doubt be loads more reports coming in soon. I look forward to seeing them all tomorrow. :D

Re: Enid Blyton Day 2012

Posted: 12 May 2012, 21:47
by Francis
Just returned, tired but very happy after a very enjoyable E.B. Day. I would
like to thank Tony and all the speakers, Sarah for her enjoyable presentation, Jon for
making us believe that Enid's legacy was in safe hands Georgina for her very entertaining
demonstration of her talents and kindness in signing her pictures and Pam for her tour de force
in the travails of working on the Darrell legacy. Also all those very kind and friendly people who
made the day and picnic so enjoyable - especially Shadow who drove us to the picnic and back.
Also thanks to all those kind people who brought such lovely food - special mention to Viv for
bringing the plates and cups - hope her mother got to Woking OK.

Re: Enid Blyton Day 2012

Posted: 12 May 2012, 22:07
by Fiona1986
I've now sat down to relax after my first ever EB day.

As Stef and I arrived we bumped into Shadow and Julie at the front door, and inside I was introduced to Daisy, Eddie, Wolfgang, George@Kirrin, 7up, Viv, Moonraker, Lenoir and Faraway Tree. We also saw Anita and Tony who I'd met before. Later we met Francis (who was quite right about the weather thank goodness!)

We browsed the stalls (looking in horror at some of the prices inside!!) but I'd forgotten to bring a list of what books I wanted so I only picked up a Society Journal I didn't have and one book I was able to remember I wanted!

After Sarah Lawrence's interesting talk about Seven Stories and Jon Appleton's positive but not very enlightening talk about the copyrights they had acquired Stef and I had a picnic lunch outside and had a wee chat with Nigel and Jane. Then we decided to race home to Stef's house to pick up a few things. When we got back Stef got her copy of the dossier signed by Tony and I was able to pick up a book or two from my hastily written list.

Then it was time for another speaker, this time Georgina Hargreaves who illustrated 10 EB books. She was extremely interesting and very, very funny.

We had a quick break for a wonderful cream tea (and some more book buying) and Stef and I got Imogen's autograph (I'd forgotten to bring my copy of A Childhood at Green hedges for her to sign). She then gave me a kiss and a cuddle and called me an 'angel' for returning her purse which she'd left on the table :oops:! Stef and I then helped 7up find some good affordable Famous Five paperbacks.

We then sat down for the final speech, by Pam Alley about her time working for Chorion. It was quite insightful, but it was a shame as quite a number of people had left by the time she started.

The official part of the day was then over and some of us put the chairs away (mostly Stef, Wolfgang, David and Lucky Star!), while the rest of us chatted (I won't name names!) and I managed to track down Katharine who admitted to have been hiding most of the day.

Next it was off to Dinton Pastures for a picnic. We traveled with Faraway Tree and her friend Dawn as well as Anita and had a good old chinwag on the way . We had masses of food for our picnic, and I had my first ever macaroon so now I know what they're on about in the Five Find Outers! Stef, 7up and I went on a bit of an adventure across a bridge and through a boggy field to the other side of the duck pond. So we ate lots and talked lots and took some photographs which I am sure will appear on the forums soon. I think it's fair to say a great time was had by all, and it was sad when it all ended. Stef and I ended up taking home plenty of food! We dropped Faraway Tree, Dawn and Anita off at Twyford station and headed back to her house to talk about the whole day in great detail.

Apologies if I've missed out anyone I met!

Re: Enid Blyton Day 2012

Posted: 12 May 2012, 22:33
by Pippa-Stef
Being slightly dull, but what Fiona said! :lol:

I don't think I can add much more to what Fiona has said, as most of you know that I was up early this morning to help David Cook put out the chairs and tables, with the surprise addition of Wolfgang to help!

But anyway, busy busy day that went past all too quickly. New faces, old faces, chats, scones, books, talks, picnic. Now collapsed in a heap hoping that we'll actually not be too tired to get to Bourne End and Old Thatch tomorrow.

I shall post a proper review on my blog in due course, but as even typing this coherently is a struggle, I shall not bore you with my proper review now.

Thanks to Tony for organising such a wonderful day, as always!

Re: Enid Blyton Day 2012

Posted: 12 May 2012, 23:23
by KayleighLouise
So my first EB day has finished. I was very grateful to my sisters for coming with me as I hate going places on my own! I knew people would be friendly but I don't know how to approach people, especially when I do not know what they look like! Thank you to Daisy who noticed me first and introduced me to others - I would have had no idea you were forumites otherwise!
I had decided to get my bf to drive us to the event just in case there was an issue with parking (and I hate driving somewhere when I've never been there before). I think George loved the fact he got my car for the day too!
We arrived around 1045 and began browsing straightaway. We were also very shocked at some of the prices of the books but it just goes to show how much of a legacy Enid Blyton has become! I spent £42 at the second stall, ooops! I was surprised how many books I saw there that I already had but then there were hundreds I didn't have! I also realised that although I am a massive fan of Noddy, I can't be as much as I thought because I didn't want to start buying the noddy works there at the prices it was at - I am also a bit obsessive about 'collections' in series so if I get one I want them all the same and there are far too many Noddy books or strips. I looked out for some sets of secret seven and mallory towers but the cheap ones were all odd ones and I just didn't have the time to try and find a whole set from one publication! I have a few secret sevens that are old knight publications and only two of the mallory towers set, but as I saw some other books I wanted I know I could fill those series at a later date. I was also very thankful that I wrote down the books I already had as standing at some stalls I was looking at books and saying I didn't have it but after consulting the list realised I did! I was telling Julie, (who I met from forum) I need to start picking them up and reading them all! I told george that when we have children I will be reading them every night but probably more for me than them haha :p
By the time we got to the EB society stall it was already five to twelve! I spent 17.50 at the adjoining stall and then we had to hurriedly find our seats!
I am very excited about the Enid Blyton exhibition and although it might be costly to visit it at seven stories I probably would do it after seeing what they had done with judith kerr, anthony browne and julia donaldson. I work with children so am very much in touch with the works of julia donaldson and already have about 12 of her books on my shelf I use at work so I can see the effort from the photos was impressive! Me, Tiffany and Victoria were discussing what they could do with it on our way home and have no idea where they would start.
At lunchtime we sat outside and Georgina Hargreaves approached us. She was really nice and I didn't connect her to the books until she introduced herself and I remembered reading about her in the Journal. She told us that she was disappointed that noone was selling her books but she was informed that they would sell at around 225 so nobody today would be buying them! She loved that we were so young attending a day like today, I'm wondering if she knew how old I really am, I know they're both taller than me :( but I am 10 and 11 years older than them! Promise! Haha. Georgina asked for our photo to put on fb which Tiffany huffed about, and again when Anita asked later but I think she loved the attention really! :p after Georgina's talk, she signed our programmes and also two of our books that we bought from Viv. Unfortunately a man jumped in and grabbed a copy of the magic faraway tree so Victoria missed out but Georgina gave her the page of doodles she was using to draw from in her talk. Chick said that was probably much better!
During the lunch break we visited the last stall and spent a further 30 and I gave in and spent 8 of that on a noddy book. Once the talks were over I went back to the society stall and spent my last ten pounds on the luck of the laytons, a non stop run and jolly times. Someone can do the maths on the books I bought. Plus the rest I spent on petrol and lunch ooops! A lot of money was spent today, but by far better was the good day I spent at the hall. It was a shame that the first forumites we bumped into was after lunch as the day then disappeared and there were quite a few people I never got to see or speak to, including Tony who I would have liked to say hello to. I also have had his dossier for years and never thought of getting it signed so may have to in the future ;)
Sounds like the picnic was fun and it is such a shame that we had to miss it just as I was getting into speaking to people. I hope we can join in next time but unfortunately I work a lot and I am currently babysitting right now as I write this - probably a good thing as if I were at home I would have been reading eb rather than writing this :p
Thanks again to the people that spoke to me and my baby sisters, sorry I am still new to the forum so will write ur forum name or real name but was - daisy, julie, moonraker, eddie (cud tell it was u from ur picture :p, chick, and anita, hope I didn't forget anyone and wish I could have met more. Thanks for putting the event on Tony and I wish I had known of the society before the end of last year!

Re: Enid Blyton Day 2012

Posted: 13 May 2012, 08:18
by Eddie Muir
Another wonderful Enid Blyton Day has come and gone and both Chick and I thoroughly enjoyed ourselves. As always, we drove home with huge smiles on our faces talking about the day's delightful proceedings. :D

I'd like to thank all those who made the day such a delight for us and so I'm going to list those people we spoke to or contributed to the success of our day. Anita; Julie, Stephen and Morgan; Nigel and Jane; John (Lucky Star); Stef; Daisy; Fiona; Sally; Lenoir; Shadow; Francis and Isabel; Zoe; Kayleigh Louise and sisters, Victoria and Tiffany; Abi and her grandma; Viv, Rosie and Fiona; Katharine and her mum; Wolfgang; Imogen; Sophie; David Cook; the excellent speakers; the dealers; the caterers and a special BIG thank you to Tony for all his hard work in organising such a super event! :D

I hope I haven't omitted anyone but, if I have, I apologise. Sadly, I didn't get to meet one or two other forumites who were on the list to attend, but the day passed so quickly and before we knew it it is time to say farewell to Loddon Hall and head off to Dinton Pastures for a sumptuous picnic. I'm happy to say that the weather stayed fine and made a valuable contribution to the success of the day.
Lucky Star wrote:Many thanks to Eddie and Chick for giving me a lift there and back. In the car we briefly abandoned Blyton for a good old Rock n Roll discussion and I have a great new CD to listen to courtesy of Eddie. :D
You were most welcome, John. We thoroughly enjoyed the discussion about rock 'n' roll. I hope you like the CD. :D

Re: Enid Blyton Day 2012

Posted: 13 May 2012, 09:19
by Ming
Thank you for such lovely reports, John, Eddie, Fiona, Stef, Francis, KayleighLouise! It was great to read such detailed accounts. Can't wait for the photos to be up!

Re: Enid Blyton Day 2012

Posted: 13 May 2012, 10:41
by Lenoir
It was a funny feeling, and a most welcome one, to walk into a strange place that suddenly felt like home because of the people I knew from the forums.

It was great to meet everyone and just be there. On the way from the station I met up with the lady from Portugal (sorry, I can't remember her name), and Sue Webster and we were poring over our maps to work out which way to go. It was a nice way to get started and once inside the hall it was like entering another world.

The picnic was enjoyable as well. Thanks to Viv for making sure I had a lift and thanks to Shadow for the lift.

I will have a few photos to add, but they will have to wait until I'm back home.