News from The University of Worcester Research Collections

The University of Worcester Research Collections which includes the The Westerman Collection: The works of  Percy F. Westerman which has been an invaluable source of material for the annual Westerman Seminars has a new face.  Their new web page design is attractive and has an easy link to the Westerman Collection details and inventory.

The Alliance of Literary Societies

Despite all the things that I have said about following the words of Groucho Marx with his quote "I would never want to join a club that would have people like me as a member".  I am pleased to tell you that the Friends of The Westerman Yarns is now a member of the Alliance of Literary Societies (ALS). 

The ALS is the umbrella organisation, formed in 1973 for literary societies and groups in the UK.  Their aim is to provide support and advice on a variety of literary subjects, as well as promoting cooperation between member societies.

Winning the War of the Twitter Waves

I set up a Twitter account about two years ago, but had a number of issues with making good use of it.  The main one was it being hijacked by a number of people who used it to post inappropriate messages that appeared to have been sent by me. 

During the recent Westerman exhibition, I opened a new Twitter account to promote the exhibition and the related activities within the Havant Literary Festival.  I enjoyed this so much that I plan to keep using it. 

To find me, either click the link below or search on twitter for Percy F. Westerman.
Follow Westerman Yarns on Twitter

Coming Soon

I know that I have been neglecting the weblog recently, but in the words of the great John Lennon “Life is what happens when you’re doing other things.” Below are few ‘things’ that I am planning and will share with you very soon.

A review of the recent Westerman Yarns exhibition at the Havant Literary Festival

Details of the Westerman Seminar 2014.

The next edition of The Friends of the Westerman Yarns Newsletter.

Where you can see ‘Ripping Yarns’ and the Tale of the Forgotten Author - Plans to display the exhibition in other venues.

Havant Literary Festival 2013

‘Ripping Yarns’ and the Tale of the Forgotten Author, an exhibition at the Havant Literary Festival 2013.  This is an open invitation to attend the official opening of the first exhibition to celebrate the life and works of Percy F. Westerman.

The exhibition will be opened at 2pm by the Mayor of Havant in the Havant Library. 



The Westerman Yarns would like to thank all our sponsors, J. Edwards Funeral Directors (Bedhampton), Portsmouth Grammar School and Mercury Graphics for their generous support with this project.

Click the link for information of other Havant Literary Festival 2013 events and activities.

The Westerman Yarns events are:-

‘Ripping Yarns’ and the Tale of the Forgotten Author.  The exhibition will be open during normal library opening hours from 2pm Tuesday 1st October until Friday 11th October, Havant Library.

By Bike and Boat, Percy F. Westerman. Tickets £3.00, Wednesday 2nd October, Havant Library, 2pm -3pm: Nigel Gossop will talk about the local and regional connections in Percy’s journalism and story writing.

Ripping Yarns, The Life and Works of Percy F. Westerman. Tickets £3.00, Saturday 5th October, The Meridian Centre, 10.30am – 12pm:  Nigel Gossop presents an illustrated talk on the life of this Portsmouth born author of adventure books for children.

Westerman Goes to Hollywood. FREE Admission, Monday 7th October, The Meridian Centre, 11am – 12.30pm: A screening of the silent film made in 1937 of the book Haunted Harbour. Nigel Gossop will introduce and give an account of the story behind the story with an explanation of how the Warsaw Sea Scouts made the film having been instrumental in Percy F. Westerman writing the story.

A Westerman Exhibition

The Westerman Yarns have been invited to stage an exhibition as part of the fifth Havant Literary Festival, a celebration of the written and spoken word.  The festival takes place during the first ten days of October.  Please watch the festival web site for details.

http://www.havantlitfest.org.uk

Sponsorship Invitation

As this is our first public exhibition we are keen to ensure a quality presentation and are seeking sponsorship for the production of twelve, full colour, exhibition panels.  This could be one sole sponsor or several sponsors contributing a share.  All sponsors will be invited to have their logo at the lower edge of each panel. For further information, please email westermanyarns@gmail.com

Join us for a special day in Wareham

At the Westerman Seminar in February this year we discussed the idea of taking the next seminar to Percy's beautiful home town of Wareham, for one year, to visit the site of ‘The Barge’ and the Redcliffe Yacht Club, founded by Percy F. Westerman; their first Commodore. 

I am pleased to inform you that Wareham Town Council have kindly agreed to allow us to hold the next Westerman Seminar in the Council Chamber on Saturday 15^th February, 2014. 

Details of the programme are still being developed and we are still accepting ideas and suggestions, but I am really pleased to be taking the seminar to the place that Percy called ‘home’ for the last 40 years of his life.

On Friday 14^th February The Friends of the Westerman Yarns will be presenting a Westerman exhibition/display in the Corn Exchange, Wareham (times tbc).

The Westerman Seminar will return to Portsmouth Grammar School in 2015.