6 minute read
Book corner
The BV magazine, September ‘22
BOOK CORNER
by Tracie Beardsley
Baden Powell – the Boy Scout who never wanted to grow up
Baden-Powell blowing his African Koodoo horn to wake the Brownsea boys (Scouts Heritage)
In her open-minded new biography, Dorset journalist Lorraine Gibson unearths fascinating insights into the complex character of Robert Baden-Powell
Most people know him as the founder of the Boy Scouts. However, the astoundingly eccentric Robert Baden-Powell was a brilliant military strategist and hero of the Second Boer War, yet later became a pacifist who angered Mussolini and ended up on Hitler’s death list. A conflicted character, he was a macho man who was obsessed with Peter Pan (he saw the play five times) and who was happy to don a frock and entertain troops as a drag artist. He was an elitist man of privilege, but one who gave the poorest children opportunities to discover the great outdoors.
It started with a statue
After delving deep into the world of Boy Scouts and their famous founder, journalist Lorraine Gibson, who lives near Brownsea Island, became intrigued by the island’s role in the birth of the Scouting movement. She was hooked. In the pandemic of 2020, she reported on a fight between Scouts and anti-slavery protesters, hell-bent on throwing Baden-Powell’s statue off Poole Quay. Now, 90,000 mainly lockdownwritten words later, her first book, Robert Baden-Powell: A Biography, is published. She explains: ‘The more Baden-Powell’s mother, Henrietta Grace (Scouts Heritage)
I researched, the more I discovered the dichotomy between his “two lives”, as Baden-Powell called them. His difficult childhood really drew me in – a domineering and unaffectionate mother whom he loved even though she forced him into the army at 19, dashing his dreams of becoming an artist. ‘My book considers a recently discovered telegraph that adds fuel to speculation over his relationship with a fellow soldier that endured for 30 years, until, at the age of 55, he secretly married a 22-year-old woman.’ She adds: ‘This is not so much a warts-and-all tale, but a whatcaused-the-warts tale. I leave the reader to make up their mind.” Researching in the pandemic had many restrictions, but thanks to modern technology Lorraine was able to interview BadenPowell’s granddaughter, who is still in the scouts in her 80s, and his grandson, as well as his great grandson, who lives in Nova Scotia. She said: ‘I was blown away by the support I got for my fresh take on the man. I got access to his diaries and school records and when lockdown lifted I had the rare opportunity of seeing archived scouting material curated on Brownsea Island.’ And how was writing her first book? ‘The spare room became my writing turret. My computer was on at 4am and sometimes I would sneak there during the night when an idea came to mind. I was paranoid about losing my work so had back-ups on all manner of devices. ‘The wall was covered in hundreds of Post-It notes and a timeline. My husband and two daughters were very patient. ‘I’d be watching YouTube videos about Baden-Powell while I was cooking, and suddenly rush off to write something. ‘There were a few almost-burnt suppers that year!” Potentially there are more Baden-Powell in gauntlets and high British boots taken by David Taylor in Mafeking 1900. Image: Australian War Memorial.
Baden-Powell as a clown (far right) in 13th Hussars’ panto at Lucknow 1877
The BV magazine, September ‘22
BOOK CORNER charred offerings in store for her family: Lorraine is already embarking on another book. She revealed exclusively to The BV: ‘I’m moving from a man in shorts to a man in rhinestone catsuits! I’m a huge Elvis fan and so was my dad. The title of my next book is Elvis: The King of Fashion. What Elvis wore is so culturally relevant. Ask someone how they imagine Elvis and you can almost guess their age. White suit and capes - the Las Vegas 70s. Black leather in the 60s era and drainpipe jeans in the 50s. I’m really hoping to get to Memphis next year to do some real-life research.’
Robert Baden-Powell: A Biography is priced at £25 and available from local bookshops and online. ISBN: 9781399009300 Pen & Sword History
Lorraine Gibson turned her spare room into her writing turret
Visiting Artists’ Tindall Recital Series
Dave Newton Jazz Trio
Thursday 22nd September 2022, 7.30pm Tindall Recital Hall, Music School, Sherborne School
Featuring Dave Newton on the piano, Steve Brown on drums and Adam King on double bass
“This is as good an example of a straight ahead, swinging mainstream jazz piano trio as you’ll find.“ - The Irish Times
Tickets £12.50 01935 812249 tickets@sherborne.org
Friday Lunchtime Recitals
1.45pm Cheap Street Church (unless otherwise stated)
FREE ADMISSION ALL WELCOME
The BV magazine, September ‘22 BOOK CORNER
Talk and signing with Peter James
Join Wayne for a fascinating event to celebrate his explosive new novel Picture You Dead, the latest Roy Grace thriller from the number one bestseller Peter James. Much loved by crime and thriller fans for his fast-paced page-turners full of unexpected plot twists, sinister characters and accurate portrayal of modern day policing, Peter James has won more than 40 awards for his work, including the WHSmith Best Crime Author of All Time Award and Crime Writers’ Association Diamond Dagger. In Picture You Dead, readers discover the darkness that lurks around every corner in the latest instalment of Peter James’s awardwinning detective series, which is now a major ITV programme starring John Simm as Roy Grace. Harry and Freya, an ordinary couple, dreamed for years of finding something priceless buried among the tat in a car boot sale. It was a dream they knew in their hearts would never come true ... until the day it did. They buy a drab portrait for a few pounds for its beautiful frame, planning to cut the painting out. Then, back at home, they realise there seems to be another picture underneath – and it’s a stunning landscape. Could it be a long lost masterpiece from 1770? If so, it could be worth millions. One collector is certain it is genuine. He is someone who uses any method he can to get what he wants and will stop at nothing. Detective Superintendent Roy Grace finds himself plunged into the unfamiliar and rarefied world of fine art. Outwardly it appears respectable, gentlemanly, above reproach. But beneath the veneer, he rapidly finds that greed, deception and violence walk hand-in-hand. And Harry and Freya Kipling are about to discover that their dream is turning into their worst nightmare.
‘Sinister and riveting … Peter James is one of the best British crime writers, and therefore one of the best in the world.’ Lee Child
