MEMBERS OF THE ALLIANCE OF LITERARY SOCIETIES

The Nancy Blackett Trust

Bedford Author Mark Rutherford to be commemorated

The Siegfried Sassoon Fellowship

photo by C. Burns, 1995

The Muriel Spark Society

Flora Thompson There is the idea of forming a Society for this lady. If you are interested in joining the Society, or in just reading about Flora Thompson please visit

The Trollope Society exists, with a world-wide membership, to promote and publish the works of Anthony Trollope, to provide a forum for the exploration of all aspects of his life, and to encourage the reading and enjoyment of his fiction for future generations.

The Trollope Society
People can contact the Trollope Society on 020 7720 6789 or by email at info@trollopesociety.org.
Activities include an Annual Dinner in February, the Annual General Meeting and Annual Lecture in November, the Summer Party in July, and other occasional themed visits (eg to Ireland, Bruges, the Lake District).
The Trollope Society has published the Complete Trollope Edition, a set of all forty seven novels and the author's Autobiography, together with his travel books, short stories, and biographies. These are available to be purchased by members of the Trollope Society. A quarterly magazine, Trollopiana, is sent to all members.
The London, Cambridge, York and Edinburgh seminar groups are a great success and meet regularly.
Please contact Martin Chown (martin.chown@tesco.net) if you would like to take part in the any of these groups.
Full details of the activities of the

The Parson Woodforde Society

This is a new society which aims to present Virginia Woolf in her true light as a great novelist, essayist, publisher and woman of letters by stimulating research into her life and works; providing opportunities for members to meet, correspond and share their enjoyment of her work; and acting as a focal point for British scholars and enthusiasts alike. The monument to Virginia Woolf was unveiled on Saturday, 26th June 2004 at the SW corner of Tavistock Square Gardens. The memorial consists of a bronze copy of the bust of Woolf sculpted by Stephen Tomlin in 1931, on a five-foot-high plinth of Portland stone designed by Stephen Barkway.Although Virginia Woolf was painted several times by her sister Vanessa Bell and others, Tomlin's is the only three-dimensional image of Woolf taken from the life. Tavistock Square was chosen for the memorial's location because Virginia and Leonard Woolf lived at no. 52 (destroyed during the Second World War) from 1924 to 1939. During this period Woolf wrote some of her most famous works, including Mrs Dalloway, To the Lighthouse, Orlando and The Waves.

Our autumn and winter events programme focuses on the lives of women 200 years ago, and follows on from our recent 'Telling our own Story' exhibition. This exhibition explored the lives of women linked to the Lake Poets, through their letters and diaries and provided fascinating insights into their roles and relationships as well as personal and community fulfilment.
Visitors' response to the exhibition demonstrated the huge interest in the personal and domestic lives of women in Wordsworth's time. The programme has been inspired by this response: we will be trying our hand at: knitting, sewing, journal making and book covering. All of these activities are represented in our collection: either as artefacts or described in letters and journals. Original artefacts will be on display.
The women of the Wordsworth circle were part of a wider Cumbrian community in which they were involved, and whose activities they recorded for themselves; and, as it has transpired, for us 200 years later. The events in this programme reflect, not just this past community, but present and hopefully future interests and relationships.
All events are free (donations welcome to cover the costs of materials) and open to all, and take place in Townend, Grasmere, unless otherwise stated. Space is limited so please ring Lucy (015394) 35544 to reserve your place. Please note we reserve the right to alter the programme.

Hand in Glove
An exhibition on the history of glove knitting in North West England, with comparisons with patterns in modern Lithuania. The museum collection includes several examples of early gloves and knitting sheathes; Wordsworth's sister-in-law, Sarah Hutchinson, recorded the tale of 'The Terrible Knitters of Dent'. 19th October - 31st December, Jerwood Centre Lower Rotunda

Tuesday 23rd October Make your own notebook (drop in) I stitched up the Pedlar. These few words from Dorothy Wordsworth's journal refer not to a person, but to a poem by William Wordsworth, the pages of which she has sewn together. Dorothy also kept her Grasmere journal in a series of handmade notebooks. During the day we will have an expert on hand to help you create your own journal. The Foyle Room, Dove Cottage, drop in 10am-4pm

24th October Guided Walk - Ann Lambert, Custodian of Dove Cottage We then went to John's Grove, ... There was a sweet sea-like sound in the trees above our heads, we walked backwards and forwards some time for dear John's sake. These words, from Dorothy Worsworth's journal, show how the landscape and personal relationships were intermingled for the Wordsworth's. This walk will focus on this and other local places visited by Dorothy and recorded in her letters and journals. Meet outside the Dove Cottage shop, 11am

Sunday 28th October Knitting and Songs - Rachael Matthews This event will combine knitting and traditional music written by crafting communities from the North West. The event will begin in the afternoon with a knitting circle and then, in the evening, move into Dove Cottage for song and verse.
Rachel Matthews is a textile artist and founder of the 'Cast Off' knitting group. She has been instrumental in the resurgence of knitting handicrafts and has published widely on the subject. The Foyle Room, Dove Cottage, 2pm onwards

Saturday 3rd November Hand knitting in the Lakes and Dales: past, present and future - June Hall Every female from nine to ninety ... was a wondrous knitter. This observation, made in 1894, is from a book entitled 'Annals of A Quiet Valley in the Wordsworth Country'. The background to this comment will form the basis for this talk about knitting in the local area. The talk will be followed by the launch of the 'Town End Knitting Café', a fortnightly opportunity to drop in and knit. Refreshments served in the café including cakes made from 18th century recipes.

June Hall is a member of The Woolclip Limited, a co-operative of 16 crafts women and farmers who organise Woolfest. June owns a small flock of rare breed Soays sheep and is a local historian, researcher, teacher and writer. Jerwood Centre, 3pm

The Francis Brett Young Society
The Francis Brett Young Society homepage
Details of Francis Brett Young and the Society
Membership Subscription
Very brief piece about Francis Brett Young
Contact: Mrs J Hadley, 92 Gower Road, Halesowen, W Midlands B62 9BT Telephone 0121 422 8969.
Index 

The Charlotte M. Yonge Fellowship