Old Pond publishing days

Old Pond / Truck and Driver competition results

In the December issue of Truck & Driver magazine readers were invited to enter a competition sponsored by Old Pond Publishing. Many respondents knew that Doha is the capital of Qatar.

The winners, pulled out of a hat, are: Charlie Austin from Co. Cork; R Harmer, Alresford; John Marks, Leeds; Dan Nind, Attleborough; Louise Whitley, Bridgnorth. Each winner will be receiving a free copy of the DVD Destination Doha shortly.

Unsuccessful entrants will be offered the chance to buy a copy of the programme free of postal charges by Old Pond. The competition is now closed. 

Franklyn Wood, author of Cola Cowboys

In spring 2010 Old Pond Publishing is going to reprint Cola Cowboys. We would very much like to make contact with author Franklyn Wood or his family. If anyone can put us in touch, please reach us by phone on 01473 238200  (0044 1473 238200 from outside the UK) or email [email protected].

All change at Old Tractor magazine

"I shall remain as editor of Old Tractor for the next three months but the March 2010 issue will be my last in that role."

The words are those of Stuart Gibbard in an email to contributors and friends, 9 November.

Working on a freelance basis, Stuart has edited and produced Old Tractor since its inception in 2003. The December issue is number 75. Readers know that they are guaranteed excellent photographs and in-depth features, edited to a high standard.

The new editor will be Scott Lambert, currently the designer of Tractor & Machinery magazine. The change reflects owner Kelsey Publishing's policy of taking all its titles in house in order to make optimal use of its employed staff.

Stuart continues: "My position is now fluid and I have been asked to move to the position of group editorial consultant with increased input over all the Kelsey tractor titles as well as contributing to Tractor & Machinery, Old Tractor and others in the group."

In response to his email Stuart has received many replies expressing astonished disappointment and support.

Kings of Construction DVD off the list

Unfortunately Old Pond is unable to obtain reliable supplies of the popular Discovery channel DVD set Kings of Construction although it is included in our latest catalogue. We are unable to fulfil orders and are refunding any that we hold.

Old Pond at the Newark Show

Old Pond Publishing will have a stand in the Newark Pavilion at the show on 6 and 7 November. Several people have phoned to ask us to reserve books or DVDs for collection at the event, and we are happy to do so: 01473 238200.

A plague on both your houses! (The postal strike)

Old Pond has decided that its first reaction to the postal stoppages is to send all UK orders of £30 or more by DHL 48 hour service. There is no extra charge for our customers. 

Carl White's photograph book launch

Snape Maltings, East Suffolk, was the venue for the launch of Bells Beneath the Sea, published by Old Pond. (See also blog 28 August.)

Artist photographer Carl White signed copies of his new book in the Snape Gallery. Hung on the walls around him was a selection of his prints which are on display and sale there for another week.

Among those attending the launch were, from the left: Andrew Hurst who contributed the book's Foreword; Carl White; television journalist Tom Heap, principal speaker; Peter Raby of Homerton College, Cambridge.

Peter Boulton's photograph book launch

David Kindred’s book Hadleigh: the portrait of a Suffolk town – the photographs of Peter Boulton was recently launched at Hadleigh library under the auspices of the Idler bookshop.

We were fortunate that members of Peter Boulton’s family were able to attend. In the photograph, from left to right, are Rona Dyer, Nigel Rea, Marie Boulton, Anne and Clare Rea and author David Kindred.  Marie Boulton is Peter’s widow; Anne and Clare are his daughter and grand-daughter.

Rona Dyer worked for Boulton-Hawker Films for forty-eight years when they were based in Hadleigh. Nigel Rea (married to Anne) continues to run Boulton-Hawker Films  with Peter’s son David. B-HF, now based near Stowmarket, is a major supplier of DVD teaching programmes for schools and similar institutions. Nigel also runs Ibis Multimedia.

The new book contains an Appreciation of Peter Boulton by his son David and daughter Anne. An extensive review of the book based on this Appreciation appeared in the East Anglian Daily Times on Saturday 3 October.

More information about this book is in the blog of 5 June. You can buy a copy online at Old Pond.

Wartime Weekend Film Show

Wantisden Valley, whose annual event 'Power of the Past' is fondly remembered (it ran from 1996 to 2004) is starting a new event this year. We don't expect such a feast of working machinery although organiser Kate Leith says that quite a lot will be there. 'Wartime Weekend' takes place on 26-27 September.

As the poster shows, there will be lots of activities relating to the Second World War. The items listed are: steam threshing - steam wood-sawing and ploughing - vintage tractors working - tanks and military vehicles in operation - Land Army girls - 1940s dance demonstrations and classes - 1940s fashion show and cookery - children's funfair - archive film showing.

The archive film show is Old Pond's contribution. But rather than show just our own programmes we are working with Panamint Cinema, a Scottish company which specialises in transferring 'forgotten' documentaries to DVD.

The following are some of the films we shall show:

A Welcome to Britain. A War Office film from 1943 starring Burgess Meredith, Beatrice Lillie and Bob Hope showing what GIs could expect when they arrived over here, from country pubs to racial integration.

The True Story of Lili Marlene (1944) shows the progress of the war through the German and Allied troops' adoption of the Lili Marlene song. A Humphrey Jennings film featuring Marius Goring.

Women and Children at War is a collection of short documentaries from 1940-1943. Land Girls, the Women's Institute, a rural school, evacuees and factory workers are among the themes in this stirring programme.

Another collection of programmes from 1940 to 1944 gives a snapshot of how the services and civilians stood up to the threat of Germany. We Forgot About Germany includes appearances by Leslie Howard and Bernard Miles.

Four war-time farming films showing the seasons in 1941 to 1942 make up The Crown of the Year. The farms featured are from Dorset, Herefordshire, Lancashire, Cheshire and Norfolk.

Wantisden Valley is a few miles north of Woodbridge, Suffolk, off to the east of the A12. There will be plenty of signs leading in from the A12 itself.

26 and 27 September: 10.00 am to 5.00 pm.

Click on the map to the left to enlarge it.

Footpath conservation, Hoy, Orkney

Like so many other visitors to Orkney I was keen to see the Old Man of Hoy, the stack made famous in 1966 by Chris Bonington and colleagues as the first televised climb.

To reach it you walk a couple of miles over a headland from Rackwick, which is down at sea level. However, all these boots have an erosive impact, so it was no real surprise to find some path conservation going on.

The Volvo EC30 was being operated by Andrew Coleman, one of the partners in Highland Conservation Ltd.

The company was established in 1992 by Andrew and his partner John Urquhart. After four years' practical experience Andrew obtained more training from the Ross and Cromarty Footpath Trust.

Both the EC30 and the EC20B were tracked up to the working area.

The relatively slight gradient means that the path can be restored without the escessive use of stone, and this is lighter on the walker's feet. Indeed, the path was a pleasure to be on.

Highland Conservation has a website at www.highlandconservation.com