Saturday was a great day! The Birdman competition at Worthing may have had to been cancelled because of the wind, but the atmosphere and staff at Waterstones were perfect. They really made me welcome. Many thanks to you all and I look forward to returning. I met some super people too, and a big thank you all for coming and taking an interest in Shipwrecks of Sussex.
The sun shone and everyone was in a happy mood on Selsey on Tuesday 9th August as 22 authors gathered at St Peter's Church Hall for the annual Meet the Authors afternoon. Readers and Writers were able to chat informally to author
s Simon Brett, Peter Lovesey, Janet Lawrence, Dee Williams, Beryl Kingston and Catherine King to name just a few, about their books. The event was organised by Joan Moules who, as always did a fantastic job. Many thanks Joan. Those who attended were treated to some entertainment provided by crime writer Janet Lawrence, who entertained us by reading some letters. Sadly with the advent of the email, the art of letter writing is becoming a thing of the past, but Janet urged us all to continue letter writing! 
Thank you to all who came to the launch of Shipwrecks of Sussex at Waterstones in Eastbourne. What a delightful bunch of interesting people! I met coastguards, divers, and several people who, as children, could remember some of the shipwrecks featured in my book. I also had an opportunity of telling people about the excellent museums we
have dotted along the south coast, such as The Shipwreck Museum at Hastings, Seaford and Newhaven museums and to talk about some of the interesting artefact's to be found in them. If you missed this event then do pop along to Waterstones in Worthing on Saturday 13th August where I will be doing another book signing. I shall looking forward to saying hello to you.
Which brings me to the month of January 2011. The publication of The Story of Pembrokeshire has been deferred to March 2011 and will be out in time for the Easter holiday trade. I have just, this week, finished proofreading The Story of Gower, so watch this space for more information on this book The Shipwrecks of Sussex will also be launched in 2011. June will be a busy month as I am also organising a Stickler Syndrome Support conference 10-12 June at Daventry.
It is with much sadness that I have to report the death of Gunnar B Stickler who passed away suddenly at his home in Wayzata Minneapolis USA on Thursday 4 November at the age of 85. I remember him for his compassion, energy and unassuming manner. The world has lost a great charismatic man who cared passionately for his patients, and cared deeply for people affected by Stickler Syndrome. Sadly I was unable to attend his memorial service but was asked to send out 70 copies of Ten Years On, the book I produced for the support group's 10th anniversary in 1999 and presented to Gunnar and his family. The first half of the book explains how and why I set up the Stickler Syndrome Support Group, and the second half contained a biographical sketch of Gunnar. I sent the following message to be read out at the service: 'I am so sorry I cannot be with you today, but the journey was simply not possible. I feel extremely wretched about this, but knowing Gunnar, I am sure he would have understood. When I was diagnosed with Stickler Syndrome in 1988 I found very little information in the UK about it, so I wrote to the Mayo Clinic, where it was defined, for information, and of my intention to set up a support group. Gunnar responded to my letter and enclosed copies of his 1965 and 1967 papers and put me in touch with several American families. This was SO typical of Gunnar, and so began a warm correspondence. His interest in every aspect of life shone through every communication. We discussed many subjects ranging from the atrocities of war, to his love of sport, especially iceboating, to his concerns of bei
ng an over protective grandfather. I eventually set up the support group in 1989 for families with Stickler Syndrome, the first of its kind, and when I mentioned my intention to hold a 'Stickler' conference in the UK, his immediate response was so humble, and he promised to be there at my side to support me. True to his word, he came over to our first conference in November 1994. and I will never forget the pleasure of meeting him for the first time, his great compassion, his unassuming manner, and our members can still recall his gentleness. His love and empathy for sick children was obvious that weekend as he made a point of talking to them all, as well as their families. Again when I wrote the book 'Stickler the Elusive Syndrome' I sent him the manuscript to read and asked him to write a preface. In it he wrote: 'While looking on to the flooded Mississippi from my study I think of man's continued effort to make order out of chaos. I reflect on the remarkable book Wendy Hughes has written. She describes very well the hereditary disease which we at the Mayo Clinic named... It is society's gain that Wendy's condition was diagnosed and defined. Some order replace chaos.' Gunnar was extremely interested and supportive of all my writing and was always keen to receive copies of anything I published. He came over gain to our 10th anniversary conference in 1999 and when I presented him with a copy of Ten Years On he could not believe it, and kept saying 'For me? Usually nothing is written about a medical person until they are dead!' the joy on his face that day was an image I shall always remember, and I am so please I wrote that book. He kept rubbing my shoulder in disbelief saying he did not deserve this fuss. The world was lost a great, unassuming man. His family have lost a loving husband, father and grandfather, but through The Stickler Syndrome Support Group and other groups around the world his legacy of defining the condition will live on. he will always have a special affectionate place in my heart, and I feel extremely privileged and honoured to have known and met him.
Gunnar and me, cutting our 10th anniversary cake.
Haunted Worthing was launched yesterday at British Bookshops in Montague Place in Worthing, and many thanks you all who came, and a special thanks to all who bought a copy. It was a very successful day and I do hope you will enjoy finding out a little more about Worthing and its surrounds. Worthing is noted for its seaside and 'fresh air' qualities and is relatively new as towns go, so at first glance you may not even consider it a spooky town. But think again! The ghosts who reside at Worthing are quite a friendly peaceful bunch, so it is obvious that they are content to life in harmony with their surroundings. So next time you wander into the town keep a lookout for the ghostly figures of two children peering from an upstairs window onto the main street, or you may catch a sighting of the tall ghost dressed in white that once frequented the Dragoon public house, the scene of a brawl that ended in murder. Some say it's his ghost that used to frequent the pub before it was demolished, so where is he now? Perhaps you have even caught a glimpse of the 'Grey Lady' making a fleeting appearance in the Connaught Theatre? If walking is your pleasure then on your travels you may encounter the 8ft hooded monk studying his prayer book, or perhaps you may see the flickering candles in the middle of road, possibly connected with the Knights Templar. Just 'down the road' at Littlehampton a visit to the Dolphin Hotel, declared to be the most haunted building in the town, is a truly freaky experience, and not one for the fainted hearted. Here live a whole family of ghosts, including a nursery full of mischievous children who love to play games together, run around, make plenty of noise and are known to throw the odd item or three, but don't stay in room number 2. as you may meet the top half of a lady!
