22 Mar 24:Yesterday was my first event to promote my book “Running on Empty”. I was at the Oxford Literary Festival where I was interviewed by Matthew Stadlen. There were perhaps 70 in the audience.
Although I was asked some questions I wasn’t expecting, Mathew steered the conversation nicely allowing me to make the points that I wanted to make about Parkinson’s in Africa. The audience were genuinely clapping at the end so hopefully I pitched it about right. We even sold some books!
1 May. Guy was privileged to be invited to speak at Grimethorpe Castle – a wonderful private home owned by Lady Jane Willoughby in Lincolnshire. He was hosted by Sebastian Miller, who first offered the castle before Guy had even left the Army in 2019.
The evening followed the by-now familiar format with Sebastian hosting and interviewing Guy, illustrating the session with film prepared by Rob Hayward.
Perhaps the most unusual thing on this occasion was that the poor wagon embarrassed itself by breaking down! But it was not specifically a result of travelling through Africa, it was a simple enough problem: the starter motor packed in but was easily diagnosed and repaired promptly by the AA, a service not available in Africa!
18 Mar 24: After a very early start at the BBC in Salford, I was hosted by David Bennett at Stansted House. There were approximately 80 people present and we followed the preferred format of a “conversation with…” . David and Sarah very kindly provided supper for a number of guests afterwards and the evening was a great success. A number of books were bought and signed and the audience was very generous in their donations.. I have known David for over 35 years and it was great fun to be “performing” with him again as we did together on our troop leaders course at Bovington.
I then headed to Layer Marney Tower in Essex, where I was due to talk on Friday 19th. I was met after midnight by Nick Charrington. I know his brother Richard very well but had not met Nick before. I arrived a short while after he had said good night to 50 guests he had had for dinner. This is a man who is clearly really busy. That he and Sheila could accommodate me and be such good hosts was very humbling. Yet again the evening was well attended and the tried format proved successful again
25 Apr: North Cadbury Court: A truly memorable evening organised by Janet Montgomery and Sue Spink which saw Guy and Hugh Bonneville on the stage in front of 240 people. Although the subject is serious Hugh kept the occasion light and entertaining whilst not holding back on the key messages. 140 books were sold
