29-OCT - 4 NOV 2010 FEB 26 MARCH 4 2010
Portrait Of A Killer – Jack The Ripper Case Closed
Book Review by
Danny Collins
copy@dannyjpcollins.com
HERE’S A good one to read as the wind whistles around the house on Halloween. Some years ago I read a book by the short-lived author Stephen Knight entitled Jack the Ripper, the Final Solution. Knight, who died in 1985 aged 34, attributed the Whitechapel murders of November 1988 to the eccentric British impressionist painter, Walter Sickert. Knight based most of his story on the alleged confessions by Sickert to Sickert’s ‘son’ Joseph, although whether Joseph was truly Sickert’s son has always remained in question. If he was, he was rightly due the HRH endorsed on his cheques by the Royal Bank of Scotland, for Jospeh would have been one of two brothers born to Sickert out of his relationship with Alice Margaret Crook, the illegitimate daughter of HRH Victor Albert, the Duke of Clarence and Avondale, with a shop girl named Annie Elizabeth Crook – not a prostitute as legend would have us believe. Joseph Sickert, formerly known as Joseph Gorman, may have invented the tale – he was an artist and may have been familiar with Walter Sickert’s eccentric lifestyle – or perhaps it was all true. If it was, and Knight believed every word, then the Whitechapel murders were unleashed on the community to cover up Victor Albert’s (aka Prince Eddie’s) dalliance and marriage with a Catholic shop girl and were perpetrated by Queen Victoria’s physician Sir William Gull, aided by Sickert Sr who was into a bit of sadism and gore. The royal theory has been around for years but now enters ace novelist and forensic whizz kid Patricia Cornwell, famous for her fictional chief medical examiner Kay Scarpetta. Miss Cornwell, who is no slouch herself in forensic matters – she’s actually Director of Applied
HAH to help Author: Patricia Cornwell Publisher: Sphere Price: 11.20 euros ISBN: 978 0 7515 3359 0
Forensic Science at the National Forensic Academy – weighs in with DNA, contemporary witness statements, and autopsy reports. It is gruesome reading and while Cornwell doesn’t consider the royal theory as credible she does fix on Walter Sickert. She matches mitochondrial DNA on stamps on envelopes containing taunting letters written to the police by ‘Saucy Jack’ to letters written by Sickert and she points to the artist’s paintings as containing hidden clues to the murders. It’s all very plausible and I enjoyed the detective work but as should be expected some of the reporting is gory. However, that doesn’t outweigh the unique experience for the reader to follow Ms Cornwell at work as she matches modern forensics and DNA technology to a 19th century case that baffled the best of Scotland Yard. A truly historic milestone in true crime reporting that should have pride of place on any amateur sleuth’s bookshelf – and it wouldn’t go amiss on the reading list of a few professionals as well.
All the featured books are available off the shelf or by mail order from Librería Europa, Calle Oscar Esplá 2, 03710 Calpe. Tel: 96 583 58 24; e-mail: libreria.europa.calpe@gmail.com Take along or send this review for a discount of 5% on your purchases.
Annual IFEPA dog show YESTERDAY (THURSDAY) the details of next week’s annual Canine Exhibition at the IFEPA centre in Torre Pacheco were announced by Torre Pacheco Mayor and President of the IFEPA Centre, Daniel García Madrid. The event, which is being held in conjunction with the Murcia School of Veterinarians and the Canine Society of Murcia, will be at the exhibition centre during next weekend, 6th and 7th November. The annual dog show at IFEPA is considered by dog experts to be one of the best in not only Spain, but also in Europe and attracts some the best dog breeders in the world. It is a perfect opportunity to see some of the rarest breeds and several of the dogs
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that have been confirmed to attend the event have won European and World Championship prizes for their breeds. As well as the shows, there will also be agility competitions and displays as well as the traditional parades of breeds. There will also be a wide range of exhibitors selling canine related products from collars and leads to dog insurance and homeopathic remedies. A number of vets will also be on hand to discuss canine nutrition, treatments and ailments and offer advice to dog owners about how best to care for their pooch. In order to get 33% discount off the entrance fee for the show, please cut out the advert in this issue of RTN and take it with you.
A swinging total for
Paul Cunningham Nurses
RECENTLY AT Mil Palmeras, the Phoenix Promotion Evening for the Golden Era of Swing was a huge success, with every seat in the house taken. Tony Kelly, Patti Ross and Keith Monk were amazing. Karen from PCN said she only had to watch the faces in the room light up remembering the tunes and also listen to everyone joining in their favourite songs to know this was a successful evening. Paul Cunningham Nurses would like to thank everyone for their generosity on the evening after €250 was raised for the charity following a raffle. Norma from Phoenix Promotions is a wonderful, bubbly person who put the evening together and did her very best to support the raffle, PCN would like to thank her once again for all her support. FUN CASINO Coming up on the 24th November, Norma and Phoenix Promotions have arranged another joint evening with PCN which will be a swanky night out to kick start the festive season. Phoenix will be hosting a glittering Monte Carlo Night at Los Arcos, Torrevieja with a Fun Casino where everyone can enjoy the feel of a real casino without the risk of losing their shirts! Karen from PCN says she cannot wait for Casino Night ...she will certainly at the front of the queue to volunteer her services! Keep watching the press and checking our website www.paulcunninghamnurses.com for details of this and our other forthcoming events.
SINCE ITS launch, HAH (Help at Home) has gone from strength to strength, already helping 14 clients and their families cope with a variety of health problems. HAH are proud to offer qualified nurses and carers, counsellors, a translator, fundraisers, and lots of other willing hands to help in so many ways, such as hospital sitting, respite car, driving (hospital, Doctors appointments), home care etc. We offer as much help as possible to our clients, but cannot provide full-time home care. We will, however, offer as much help as possible FREE OF CHARGE. Please call us on 633 693 034, Monday to Friday between 09.30 and 18.00. Visit www.helpathome.es for news of forthcoming events. Email helpathomespain@gmail.com or telephone 633 673 034 for further information.
EVENTS Thursday, 4th November from 14.00: Open afternoon at SOS fashions, Mercadona Square. 10% of all sales to HAH. Details Tel: Celia 968 574 576. Monday 15th November Demonstration and lunch at Campbells, Roda. Details to follow shortly. Tuesday 23rd November Table Top Sale at La Zona, Alcazares from 12.00: £5 pitch (bring your own table, and sell unwanted items): To book/details Tel: Celia on 968 574 576. Wednesday 1st December Beauty Demo, wine etc. at Gala. For further details ring Celia on 968 574 576. Friday 3rd December 20.00: Concert at Civic Centre Sucina. Featuring Showaddywaddy legends, including a finger buffet at €10: Tickets from Heather 968 371 080 or Jenny 968 371 078.