Blog
The Shop Girls makes Sunday Times 2014 “brilliant books” list
The year has got off on a terrific start with my book The Shop Girls being included in The Sunday Times selection of best reads for 2014. It is ranked second in the highlighted biography section, a total and unexpected shock, though a very pleasant one. As you can...
100 years on, tributes paid to Captain Scott’s friend Sir Edgar Speyer
One hundred years on, Sir Edgar Speyer has been commemorated for his support in helping to fund Captain Scott’s expeditions to the Antarctic, and for his major contribution to polar research. It follows the unveiling of a plaque at the Scott Polar Research Institute...
The Shop Girls launch at Heffers makes history
I have been on cloud nine since the launch of The Shop Girls in Heffers fabulous bookstore, Cambridge earlier this week. The launch was a sell-0ut, with tickets being snapped up six weeks before the event, even before I had secured some for my family, and my editor...
Good luck Heidi Allen
I am thrilled to hear the news that Heidi Allen has been shortlisted - one of four all-female candidates - as Andrew Lansley's successor to be the next Conservative parliamentary candidate for South Cambridgeshire. Heidi wooed and won support from party members at...
The Shop Girls – Rosemary’s story
Rosemary's chapters are light-hearted and fun. She is a bubbly shop girl who works in the millinery department, also assisting their milliner to make hats for their most fashion conscious and stylish customers at G. A. Heyworth's, an elegant ladies department store in...
The Shop Girls – Betty’s story
I suggest you have a box of tissues handy when you read Betty’s story from The Shop Girls, it is a real tear jerker and available today on Kindle. My heart went out to hard working Betty, she faced many knocks in life, being brought up by a strict, cold father who...
The Shop Girls – Irene’s story
Unbelievably, my shop girl Irene is 93 years-old and amazes me with her energy and youthful vigour. She called me a couple of days ago to say she had been to Newmarket Races at the weekend - and had backed the first three winners! I imagine it was that kind of...
Chris Curry’s life saving bus pass
Could your bus pass one day save your life? That is the vision of technology entrepreneur Chris Curry who is pioneering a pilot programme to explore the potential use of the humble bus pass as a powerful multi-function personal data bank. The results of the...
The Shop Girls – Eve’s story
It was Eve who first introduced me to Heyworth's, an elegant ladies department store in Cambridge which closed its doors 49 years ago. I had never heard of it before, like most people, and yet its memories are still vivid and nostalgic for the shop girls who worked...