Canterbury Beaney Exhibition

[Courtenay]

Well, I'll do my best to get there on the night, and will be happy to report back on who it is and what the talk is like. I'd love to meet anyone else who can be there, but I'm sure I can also arrange to come on another day (possibly a Saturday) when as many of us as possible can meet up.

[Moonraker]

I would also love to know who is giving the lecture, but it seems this information is not available!

Yes, so would I. I wouldn't want to go if it was someone spouting drivel such as we read in the press and in Wikipedia. I'd only get wound up like I did at a Society Day once when the speaker continuously referred to Kiki as Kie-Kie!

I don't like listening to lectures, as I always want to speak up if I disagree with something.

[Daisy]

I don't like listening to lectures, as I always want to speak up if I disagree with something.

I can imagine!

[Julie2owlsdene]

I suppose if that was the case they could always turn the lecture into a discussion on Enid and her work. I think that would be very interesting then.

[Courtenay]

Perhaps if whoever is giving the lecture turns out to be good, we could one day get hold of him or her as the guest speaker for a new Enid Blyton Day? Wishful thinking, I know, but one can always hope...

Don't worry, Nigel, I'm prone to the same temptation at lectures if I disagree with something, but usually manage to hold my tongue and just writhe silently in my seat for a while.

[Anita Bensoussane]

Why not listen to the talk and then write an article about it for the Journal, Courtenay? In your article you'd be able to praise and/or criticise to your heart's content!

[Courtenay]

Now there's a thought! Thanks for the suggestion, Anita. I'll see what I can do.

[Wolfgang]

If you're impressed by the lecture you could even ask if (s)he might be willing to be a speaker on a potential Enid Blyton Day.

[Courtenay]

Yes, that's what I was thinking! I'll put in a request to my manager tomorrow to ask if I can work morning shift on Thurs 12 Feb, so I know for sure I'll have that evening free.

[walter raleigh]

I'd probably be available on that date too if you'd care for some company Courtenay. It's actually a lot easier for me to get a midweek day off than a weekend, especially at this time of year when everybody is frantically trying to cram in the last of their annual leave, before the end of the financial year. Although I may be able to make a later meeting on a weekend there's a fairly good chance I won't, especially if it's at short notice. With the added attraction of a lecture about Enid (which should provide some talking points, even if they are likely to be negative), I think this might be my best bet for visting the Canterbury exhibition.

[Courtenay]

Thanks, Walter! That sounds excellent, if you can make it too - I'd be very happy to meet up with you. We can always discuss any details via PM if you like.

[walter raleigh]

Okay then, I'll check travel details, accommodation etc. and get back to you.

[Tony Summerfield]

I asked the person who originally contacted me who the speaker was and they have replied that it is David Rudd. I didn't originally suggest him as he lives in Bolton and I thought it would be too far for him to travel, but I have known him for many years and he originally gave the lecture at Seven Stories. He has also been a speaker in the past at an Enid Blyton Day.

[Courtenay]

Aha, thanks, Tony! I'm glad it's someone who's known to the Society and has previous experience of speaking on Blyton topics. It sounds like we can expect a worthwhile talk, then.

Out of interest, could you please let us know a little more about David's background - has he written any books, for example, or had some other particular connection with Enid? I haven't heard of him before.

[Tony Summerfield]

He has indeed written a book, Courtenay, scroll down on our Further Reading section.

http://www.enidblytonsociety.co.uk/further-reading.php" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

When I went to the launch of the Exhibition up in Newcastle I actually sat next to David at dinner that evening!