Book Sales at Alcester Street Market

Sunday 8th June 2008 saw soaring temperatures well into the 80’s, and hundreds of visitors to the Annual Court Leet Street Market in the little town of Alcester where Maurice lives. He and his family stood in the burning sunshine for 6 hours whilst the author signed many copies which were purchased.

As Ashthorpe Magna is quintessentially English, the same can be said about the Street Market: Morris Men, Court Leet Officers in robes, Town Band, choirs, pig roast and nearly 100 stands from local businesses and charities. The High Street was lined with hanging baskets and the street bedecked with red, white and blue bunting – this caused much comment from the many people looking at the book, that the scene on the front cover of Big Days in Ashthorpe Magna was almost identical to that on the day! Perhaps not too surprising when Dianne Williams who did the attractive illustrations for the cover and inside the book has lived in Alcester for many years.

“One remarkable coincidence did come about whilst Maurice was chatting (and selling a copy!) to The Marquis of Hertford of Ragley Hall”

One remarkable coincidence did come about whilst Maurice was chatting (and selling a copy!) to The Marquis of Hertford of Ragley Hall, near Alcester. A story in the book, which is truly coincidental, was that of the local stately home to Ashthorpe Magna starting a Rare Breeds Farm. To Maurice’s amazement the Marquis told him that Ragley had looked very seriously at that possibility 20 years earlier. Lord Hertford asked how the fictional characters had coped with the heavy costs involved, and the author explained that Seagram Hall could only do it by having semi-commercial numbers and signing a contract with a specialist rare breed meat supplier. Certainly a case of fact and fiction merging.

For more details on Alcester visit www.alcester.co.uk

This entry was penned on Thursday the 12th of June 2008 at 8:51 am and is filed under News. You can leave a comment, or trackback from your own site.