SUSSEX BOOK CLUB NEWSLETTER 45 Founded by David Arscott
SPRING/SUMMER 2021
NOW IS THE TIME TO SAY GOODBYE!
I
t is with much regret that I have to announce my retirement from running the Sussex Book Club. Many of you know the club was founded by David Arscott and then Judy Moore took the reins. Judy wanted to pass it on, and though I was exiled in North Derbsyhire, I had no wish to see the club fold. Distance and health problems have made my trips home infrequent. I am sorry not to have been able to organise more club outings. The good news is: the club is returning to Sussex to be run by my good friend Jonathan Taylor who lives in Storrington. Some of you may have met him on our trips to Battle and Rottingdean? He also produced the wonderful website for the club, so I know members are in safe hands. I am always happy to help Sussex authors with their projects and must make special mention of two who have had great success with their books: Lynn Lawson with THe HouSe oN THe CLIff and Amanda Sanders with BeYoND THe JeT AGe: THe LAMBReTTAS. Lynn’s book is about Seaford, where she lives and I hope to work on her next book later this year. I have always collected little snips of useless information about Sussex: Ignoring smuggling, Sussex crime was probably no worse than many inland counties, though www.sussexbooks.co.uk
the following extract from the TouRIST’S GuIDe To THe CouNTY of SuSSex by George f Chambers, published in 1891, shows that suspicion remained, 100 years after the extracts in this book. “The most serious drawback to Seaford is the civility on the part of the real ‘natives.’ This last-named characteristic is reputed to be due to the lawless wrecking spirit which survives to the present day, derived from former generations of inhabitants, notorious wreckers and smugglers, plus the corruption of morals induced by men’s votes having been worth £1000. There is still discernible among the people of Seaford a mixture of cringing servility and vulgar bullying...” one hopes that Seaford inhabitants were waiting the return of George Chambers with a lynch mob! I hope you all find something you like in my final newsletter – your orders are always welcome, no matter how small. I have also included in this newsletter a list of a few secondhand Sussex titles for sale. I only have one copy of each book so please check with me before sending cheques or money. Tel: 01629 640867. Happy reading,
Email: info@sussexbooks.co.uk
Dick Richardson Tel: 01629 640867