Author: Eddie Westfield

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Book Club Review – September

‘Jewish is a way of seeing the world, a strong consistent background theme.’

Our book this month is Going Home by Tom Lamont 2024. It is set in the Jewish community in Enfield and centres on Joel, an articulate two-year-old whose mother dies leaving him in the care of her friend Teo. It is about the four adults who take on responsibility for him in their own way. Teo who has moved away from the community to a job in the police force and a flat in Aldgate is the responsible one who takes on the grieving youngster and  learns to care for him and love him. Then there is Ben, the feckless rich boy, the opposite of Teo but also his best friend, and Vic, Teo’s father, dying of a degenerative condition and determined that Joel will not grow up in the care of the Social Services as he once did. Finally, Sybil, the only woman of the four and a progressive rabbi trying in vain to reform the intransigent members of her synagogue. All of them interact with Joel in their own way and find their lives challenged and enriched by him Continue reading “Book Club Review – September”

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‘Painting with Plants’ – Wine & Buffet Evening

Last chance for Hadlow Down HS members to get a preferential opportunity for tickets  before they go on sale to the general public!
A Horticultural Society presentation not to be missed!

Chris Beardshaw was born and grew up in Broad Green, near Broadwas, Worcestershire.   He was formally trained in horticulture at Pershore College, and holds a BA Hons and PGDip in landscape architecture from the University of Gloucestershire.  He has won 35 prestigious design awards, including 12 RHS Gold Medals.  He has also been voted for the People’s Choice Award six times, most recently in 2023.
His first TV appearance was in 1999 as the expert on Surprise Gardeners for Carlton TV. After this, he moved to the BBC TV and Real Rakeovers as the expert contributor.  His first show as solo presenter was Weekend Gardener for UKTV Style in 2000. Also in 2000, he co-presented Gardening Neighbours for BBC 2. This was followed by three series of Housecall.  After this, he joined Gardeners’ World Live as a specialist presenter, and then soon moved on to become a presenter on Gardeners World. 
Beardshaw presented The Flying Gardener series for BBC2, which ran for four series. He currently presents Beechgrove and is a regular panel member on BBC Radio 4’s Gardeners Question Time .
The Chris Beardshaw Rose was launched at the Hampton Court Show in July 2007. Scented with soft pink blooms, the new rose was produced by international rose specialist C&K Jones. Chris specifically asked for a donation (£2.50) to be made to the Royal National Lifeboat Institution (RNLI) for every rose sold.
He holds an Honorary Degree from Liverpool University and is an Honorary Fellow of Gloucester University and in 2017 was awarded the Kew Guild Gold Award.

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Hadlow Down Book Club August Review

 

‘A kid is a terrible thing to be, in charge of nothing’ 

Recently we read the childhood of David Copperfield and then compared it to Demon Copperhead, Barbara Kingsolver’s novel inspired by her hero Dickens but set in the rust belt of Appalachia and exploring contemporary issues. It was a co-recipient of the 2023 Pulitzer Prize for fiction and winner of the 2023 Women’s Prize for Fiction. Like Dckens, she lays bare and makes an impassioned criticism of social injustice, cruelty and incompetence of those who should be helping children,  Continue reading “Hadlow Down Book Club August Review”

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Sunday Service

We have been informed that their will be no Service in St. Mark’s Church this coming Sunday morning  28th. July

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Hadlow Down Summer Fayre

We’re thrilled to announce the Hadlow Down Village Fayre & Dog Show on Saturday, 7th September from 1pm to 5pm at the Hadlow Down Playing Field! Stay tuned for exciting updates on all the fun activities and amazing raffle prizes you won’t want to miss!
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July Hadlow Down Book Club Review

‘English humour turns on transforming the ordinary into the extraordinary’ , James Thurber 

Listening to the World Service in the small hours of an insomniac night, I suddenly jolted wide awake as I heard the voice of the author of one of our favourite Book Club reads – Clare Chambers talking about Small Pleasures. She was saying that she extensively read fifties novels in order to capture the dialogue and atmosphere of the time. Her favourite was Excellent Women (1952) by Barbara Pym, so we decided to read it ourselves.   Continue reading “July Hadlow Down Book Club Review”