BY THE BOOK

Moving memoirs

A collection of memoirs forms a strong strand at The Bath Festival in May. Here’s our pick of half a dozen (see also opposite page), which emphasise a sense of shared humanity

The Red of My Blood by Clover Stroud

The death of her beloved sister, Nell, of Giffords Circus, who died of breast cancer aged 46, inspired this visceral book, written about the first year of her grief. Nell’s sudden death split Clover's life apart. About what life feels like when death interrupts it, and about bearing the unbearable and describing an experience that seems beyond words, this book sharply evokes the colours, smells and sounds of a lifetime shared –although the pain of bereavement is a tough read, her story is inclusive and uplifting. Doubleday, £16.99. Saturday 14 May, 10.30am, Assembly Rooms.

Write It All Down by Cathy Rentzenbrink

A down -to-earth, wise book for anyone who has talked about committing their life story to paper but doesn’t know where to start. Cathy is the author of the bestseller The Last Act of Love, which tells her own family’s story of her teenage brother Matty who was hit by a car and suffered serious injury. Hers is a kind, wise and knowledgeable voice that will help equip you to write your own life story. Pan Macmillan, £12.99. Cathy will be joined by Nikesh Shukla (Your Story Matters) for a two-hour writing workshop on Saturday 14 May, 12.30pm, The Assembly Rooms.

My Mess is a a Bit of a Life by Georgia Pritchett

Successful screenwriter (Succession, The Thick Of It, Miranda) Georgia Pritchett knows a thing or two about anxiety. From worrying about the monsters under her bed as a child (Were they comfy enough?), to embracing womanhood, (“One way of knowing you have crossed from girlhood to womanhood is that men stop exposing themselves at you from bushes and start shouting things at you from cars. It’s a beautiful moment.”) worry has accompanied her at every turn. Pritchett is a self-confessed worrier but also an entertaining storyteller. In her adventures in anxiety, she recounts hilarious stories with an endearing self-deprecating voice which provokes some laugh-outloud moments which will get you stared at if you’re reading it on the train. Faber £9.99. Georgia will join Abi Morgan (This is not a Pity Memoir) on Sunday 15 May, 5.30pm, Literature Lounge, Alfred Street.

Outside the Sky Is Blue by Christina Patterson

When Christina Patterson’s brother Tom died very suddenly, she faced the harrowing task of clearing out his house. Tom had always been the one who held on to the family treasures and memories, but now Christina had to sift through box after box of letters, papers, photos and belongings, not just of Tom's, but of their parents and their older sister, Caroline. A beautifully drawn, heart-breaking yet also joyful memoir of growing up, of living with mental ill health and cancer, and of working out what it means to be in a family, and what it means to lose a family. Reading about another family’s struggles is to experience a shared humanity. Christina writes beautifully about her family, about growing up with parents who had relocated from a glamorous life in Rome to Surrey and about growing older, to find you’re the only one left alive. Tinder Press, £16.99. Sunday 15 May, 3pm, The Assembly Rooms.

Unforgettable: Rugby, Dementia and the Fight of My Life by Steve Thompson

In 2003, England won the Rugby World Cup. Steve Thompson was in England’s front row, at the heart of the match, and at the heart of the scrum –one of sport’s most violent battlegrounds. But triumph came at a cost. Today, he remembers nothing about playing in that final. In his words, watching the tape back is like watching a ghost. Steve Thompson was diagnosed with early onset dementia in his 40s. His story is part sports memoir, with contributions from former teammates, and partly a tale of one man’s struggle against this cruellest of conditions, robbing him of his memories, both of his sporting career and his own family. Bonnier Books, £20. Tuesday 17 May, 8pm, Walcot House: Steve will be talking to Bath Rugby Club President John Hall.

The Life Inside by Andy West

Andy West teaches philosophy in prisons. He has conversations with people inside about their lives, discusses their ideas and feelings and listens as the men and women he works with explore new ways to think about their situation. He also has inherited guilt as his father, uncle and brother all spent time in prison. He has built a different life for himself, but he still fears that their fate will be his. As he discusses questions of truth, identity and hope with his students, he searches for his own form of freedom. This book is a compassionate exploration of the different ways people find their own freedom. It’s honest but also funny, a mixture of philosophical questioning, storytelling and autobiography. Pan Macmillan, £16.99. Saturday 14 May, 4pm, Forum Ballroom. n

For tickets visit: bathfestivals.org.uk

MIDNIGHT WALK

On the night of Saturday 11 June, the streets of Bath will be aglow with hundreds of women dressed in neon, walking to remember loved ones and support Dorothy House Hospice Care.

After a covid hiatus, the much-loved Midnight Walk is returning, this year raising vital funds for the Hospice at Home service at Dorothy House. Providing compassionate free of charge care to those at the end of their lives, Dorothy House carers are there for loved ones throughout the small hours of the night, and this year women from across Bath and surrounding areas will be walking 5km through the night to fundraise for them.

Maggie Matthews, who has been a Dorothy House carer for thirty years, shared with us: “Almost every family we go in to support always say they can cope in the day, but it’s the nights they struggle with on their own. We make the patient comfortable, chat to them, and get them all they need during the night so their loved ones can have a good night’s sleep.”

Dorothy House’s emphasis has always been on caring for people in their own homes. To continue to fund this exceptional service, women aged 14+ are invited to sign up and take on the challenge of this fun midnight walk around the beautiful city of Bath. Everyone who signs up is asked to raise a minimum of £40 in sponsorship, or they can make a donation in lieu of sponsorship.

Sue Spanswick, a Hospice at Home carer at Dorothy House who has taken part several times said: “It’s the camaraderie of women that makes the Midnight Walk so special! The event is always well received in Bath and such a fun thing to do. The Midnight Walk raises awareness of Dorothy House – and as the Hospice is caring for people in their homes through the night, it’s great that the walkers are out at night fundraising for this excellent Hospice care! It’s a wonderful way for women to give back and you get that feelgood buzz from taking part.”

Every participant will receive an exclusive and free Midnight Walk tshirt to wear on the night. The theme this year is ‘Get glowing in neon’ so dress as groovy, crazy or colourful as you like – or just come as you are.

Emma Aiken-Jones, whose mother was cared for by Dorothy House, said: “It definitely adds to the atmosphere, the fact it takes place at night in the dark. The Midnight Walk is a really nice celebratory way of remembering someone that has benefitted from the work of Dorothy House, while supporting the charity. It’s fun and uniting – and a celebration of our loved ones. And actually, walking and talking with other women is really therapeutic.”

The walk kicks off at Bath Pavilion at 10pm with drinks, food, games and glowing event merchandise on offer. Then, after a funky group warm-up, it’s time to head off into the city at midnight to walk, talk… and shine!

Heather Cox a previous participant, is encouraging every woman to take part this year: “All of Dorothy House services are entirely free of charge, everything! When my mother was cared for it was free of charge - all the therapies, the treatments, everything. I wanted to give something back and the Walk lets me do that.

It’s so special to walk at night. Everyone is there because they want to do some good, or because they are walking for a loved one, which is really special. So don’t hesitate – just do it and encourage everyone you can to join you. You will have an amazing time and you’ll want to do it again because it is just so magical!”

The Midnight Walk finishes with refreshments and celebrations at the Pavilion before the participants head home for a well-earned rest at 2am.

So why not walk through the night for Dorothy House and help make a real difference in your community?

Visit dorothyhouse.org.uk and search Midnight Walk

EDUCATION NEWS

HE’S A HISTORY FELLOW

Chris Eldridge, Head of History at Wells Cathedral School, has been made a Fellow of the Royal Historical Society (RHS) in recognition of the unique work he and his team have been doing in promoting the study of medieval history in the Sixth Form at Wells. He is thrilled to have been made a Fellow, especially as it is normally university level academics who receive the recognition.

“When I first arrived in Wells I was captivated by our 10th-century origins and the medieval heritage that we live and work within. Not studying medieval history in this context looked to me like a lost opportunity. Yet medieval history tends to get neglected in British schools. A lot of teachers think it’s either incomprehensible or irrelevant to modern students. I hope the work we do at Wells studying and promoting it dispels this myth.” wells.cathedral.school There are so many trees being planted as part of the Queen’s Platinum Jubilee celebrations!

Pupils at Bathwick St Mary Church School have planted a commemorative oak tree at Bath’s new Holburne Park development, arranged by BECT, the company overseeing construction at Holburne Park. The site of the tree overlooks the Kennet and Avon Canal and the views across Bath beyond.

The Royal High School Bath has planted two Ginkgo Biloba (Maidenhair) trees during a tree planting event. One tree was given pride of place in the grounds of the Royal High Senior School campus while the other was planted in the grounds of the Prep School’s Cranwell House site.

Pupils at King Edward’s Junior and Senior Schools planted two very special trees. The High Sheriff of Somerset, Thomas Sheppard, together with The Mayor of Bath Councillor June Player, joined pupils as their special guests to help plant a silver birch and a beech tree, donated by Bath & North-East Somerset Council.

All trees are being planted as part of The Queen’s Green Canopy, a UKwide tree planting project to mark Her Majesty’s Platinum Jubilee. The Queen’s Green Canopy also aims to highlight the educational aspects of trees and to inspire young people as the future custodians of the UK’s green spaces, forests and woodlands. The trees have been added to the UK map on the Queen’s Green Canopy website. queensgreencanopy.org

TREES AND TREES FOR THE QUEEN

Tree planting at King Edward’s School