Available from January 2009
ISBN: 9781903490334
Pub: Pegasus, Cambridge
302
pages,
Illustrated, full Bibliography and Index
Paperback £9.99
Over three decades of the nineteenth century, one woman poisoned the peace of the country home of HRH Albert Edward, Prince of Wales. But who exactly was Mrs Louisa Mary Cresswell, this fractious royal tenant who rejoiced in her sobriquet of ‘The Lady Farmer’? Her book, Eighteen Years on Sandringham Estate, published in 1887, was her means of revenge, laced with criticism of the Prince himself and of the minions who conspired with him to ruin a defenceless widow and drive her out of her beloved Appleton Farm and into penury and exile in America’s Wild West. Or so she claimed.
But was it the truth? What really motivated her bitter hatred of Queen Victoria's oldest son? The answers emerged during a four-year-long detective journey which culminated in the Royal Archive at Windsor Castle, where startling revelations awaited, changing the whole story.
For an extract, go via Read terminus
and Mary will be signing more books at
The Holt Bookshop, in the Appleyard at Holt, Norfolk. Probably also January but watch this space for date.
DO COME ALONG AND SAY HELLO,
WE SHOULD LOVE TO SEE YOU
In reverse order
2009... several engagements lined up, including an appearance on 'The Weakest Link' .
There will be another morning of 'Poetry at the Princess' on 11 March. See Princess Theatre Club website: www.princesstheatreclub.co.uk
2008
November 28: was Guest Speaker at the 90th Anniversary of the PMRAFNS, did a brief spot to preface the evening and then introduced a new video on the Service's history. The event was a Cocktail Party held in the Bomber Command Hall at the RAF Museum, Hendon, London. We met and chatted with the current Patron, HRH the Princess Alexandra, who asked me to be sure to send her a copy of my new book on Louise Cresswell and Sandringham. Have done so. Hope she likes it and will persuade the rest of the family to buy one!!
November: Talk for Terrington St Clement Women's Club (again), this time with: 'The Lady Farmer of Sandringham'.
September: Talk to Heacham Gardeners' Association again, this time with: 'He took a little custard' PMRAFNS'
June 18th: Talk to New Leaf group of readers at Aylsham Library: 'Cobwebs and Cream Teas' (National Trust always a popular subject)
June 4th: Talk to Masterfood Club at Sandboy Pub near Lynn, Norfolk: 'He took a little custard...' (history of the RAF Nursing Service [see Non-fiction ])
May: Involved with play at Princess Theatre, Hunstanton. Playing 'Stella' in Rattigan's 'Cause Celebre'.
April: We were in America with our oldest son and family
March 26th: Talk for Harnser Group of WIs in Hemsby near Yarmouth: 'The Lady Farmer of Sandringham' (subject of my latest book); meant an overnight trip to far side of Norfolk.
March 12th (yes, same day, what a busy bee!): Talk for Sedgeford women's Friendship Group: 'Cobwebs and Cream Teas' (life with the National Trust)
March 12th: Host 'Poetry at the Princess' a morning session of poetry reading by and for everyone, in aid of Princess Theatre Club funds. Held in the friendly sea-view bar at the Princess Theatre, Hunstanton, Norfolk.
Feb: Invited to be a judge for the King's Lynn Soroptimists' Public Speaking Competition for local schools