Long-standing Circle member and novelist, Anne Bond, died on Friday 2nd May after a sustained period of illness.

Anne was born and bred in Scarborough and worked in a variety of jobs locally, but found an interest in writing while still a child. Over the years, she had many short stories and articles published in a variety of magazines, but her greatest achievement came in the late 1980s when she started on the road to becoming a successful romantic novelist.

Her first book, ‘Dance Without Music’ (published under her full name of Frances Anne Bond) was an instant success. Set in the period leading up to WW2, it tells the story of local girl, Sarah Armstrong, a barmaid in a seaside holiday resort, who meets and marries Victor, a strange and taciturn man who works at the local theatre. The book proved especially popular with readers at Scarborough libraries. A further six books followed throughout the 1990s (available on Amazon, from booksellers or the library).

Anne attributed much of her success to the support and advice she got from her fellow members in the Writers’ Circle, where she was a long-time member and served as Secretary for a number of years. And, although self-effacing about her own undoubted talent, she was always ready and willing to pass on her considerable knowledge to aspiring writers.

She had been out of circulation for a few years due to severe illness, but she will be remembered and much missed by those of us who knew her and counted her as a friend, and our deepest sympathies go to her husband, Peter, and her two daughters.

(Book list 1989-1999: Dance Without Music, Return of the Swallow, Darling Lady, A Different Tune, Changing Step, Catching the Lark, Old Acquaintances)

Mike Park

Well, here is the last post from me. After setting up and maintaining the site since the beginning, I am passing on the general upkeep to Valerie and Tony . Tony already edits the ‘Roundabout’ pages, and Valerie will be poster in chief  as I hand over.

Members should contact them to add information or notices.

Thanks for all the support!

John.

Thanks to Jill Boyes for a really well organised evening, and for the research and preparation that had preceded it.

When so much has been written, both fact and fiction, around the subject,  one could be forgiven for feeling that enough has been expressed already, but still new light shines here and there, illuminating events both personal and universal.

Along with Jill’s own presentations, there were contributions from Anne Morley, Dorinda Cass and John Dickinson, containing direct family links through diaries and personal recollections passed on.

Maybe only now, a hundred years on, can we gain perspective on this terrible time.

‘When will they ever learn; when will they ever learn?’

The topical programme Newsjack, which is on BBC 4extra, is built largely around submissions they receive each week. Phil had one of  his jokes accepted and used on last Thursday’s show!

Well done, Phil !

Here’s the joke…
We review the latest ‘App’ in which you upload photographs of yourself and your friends and sit back and watch yourself having a good night out without leaving the house – and avoid getting a hangover! It’s called CGI Fridays

Zoe gave Scarborough Writers’ Circle members a fascinating insight into her  world tonight.

Presented with pace, humour and a wealth of practical information  which belonged to the ‘that’s a really useful idea’ category, this talk was both entertaining and inspiring. I’m sure we all learned something.

Many of us came away with signed copies of books from the  Charlie Fox series, of which there are at least ten.

Thank you Zoe for a great evening!