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Tuesday 6 September 2011

East London Libraries Festival

Nick Dobson of Redbridge Library Services writes that the inaugural East London Libraries Festival will be with us soon an interesting programme of events across six Boroughs including here in Redbridge. The brochure can be downloaded from: http://www.redbridge.gov.uk/cms/leisure_and_libraries/libraries/events_and_activities/east_london_libraries_festival.aspx

Some of the Redbridge highlights include:

On 22nd September at the Town Hall, Ilford (7.15pm start), Imran Khan as the guest speaker.  Former Pakistan cricket captain, Imran is now a major political figure in Pakistan and his book “Pakistan: a personal history” provides a unique insider's view of a country unfamiliar to a western audience. Tickets for this event are £7.50, but tickets also entitle you to a £2.50 discount if you buy a copy of Imran’s book at the event. Contact the Central Library for tickets (020 8708 2414).

Hainault Library will host two intriguing events. The first on 21st September is a Psychological Crime Thriller Writers Panel featuring authors Erin Kelly, Julia Crouch and Ali Knight.  Tickets for this event are £2.50. On 5th October Crime Writer Alison Bruce will be at Hainault. Alison is the author of the acclaimed DC Goodhew series and is one of the rising stars of the genre. Tickets are £2.50 and are obtainable from Hainault Library (020 8708 9206). Both the Hainault events start at 7.15pm.

South Woodford Library is the venue for an event with one of our finest contemporary authors, Julie Myerson. Julie, a regular panellist on Newsnight Review on TV, will be talking about her new novel “Then”. The event starts at 7.15pm on 27th September and tickets are £2.50 from South Woodford Library (020 8708 9067 for enquiries). Lee Langley will also visit South Woodford on 20th September.  Lee has written an intriguing novel, Butterfly Shadows, continuing the story of Puccini’s Madame Butterfly!

An event that is already selling well is Sinclair McKay’s visit to Fullwell Cross Library on 30th September (7.15pm start). Sinclair has written “The Secret Life of Bletchley Park”.  Bletchley Park was, of course, the venue of key operations during WW2, so this is a fascinating story. Tickets (£2.50) are available from Fullwell Cross Library (020 8708 9281).

Do you like cupcakes? Well as I’m sure you do, come to Gants Hill Library on 12th October (7.30pm start) and meet Martha and Lisa founders of The Primrose Bakery and famous for their cupcakes.  They will tell you the amazing story of their rise from selling a few cakes to friends to being household names and running the famous Primrose Bakery and restaurants. Cakes will be available on the night and you can attend for the price of a £2.50 ticket available from Gants Hill Library (020 8708 9274).

There are also some great events at Wanstead Library (many in partnership with the Newham Bookshop). On 7th October, Constance Briscoe (author of “Ugly”) will be introducing her debut crime novel, “The Accused”. The talk starts at 7.15pm and tickets are £5 from Wanstead Library (020 8708 7400) or The Newham Bookshop (020 8552 9993). 

On 11th October meet three of our finest Historical novelists: Elizabeth Chadwick, Barbara Ewing and Jane Sanderson are in conversation with Jean Fullerton. Tickets for this one are only £2.50 available from Wanstead Library for this event that starts at 7.15pm.

Another fascinating evening is guaranteed on 13th October when education comes under the spotlight with journalist and campaigner Melissa Benn discussing her book “School Wars” with former Children’s Laureate Michael Rosen. This Wanstead event starts at 7.15pm and the tickets (£5) are available from the library or the bookshop.

Finally news of another big event, this time featuring the Queen of the Family Saga, Josephine Cox. You can enjoy afternoon tea with Josephine at Fullwell Cross Library on 6th October (2pm start). Tickets are £2.50.

There is so much more: poetry events with Daljit Nagra (Wanstead 23rd September), Mimi Khalvati and William Wordsworth (Aldersbrook 21st September) and an Open Mic Poetry Night at Ilford (6th October). Two events at Woodford Green with crime writer Oliver Harris on 28th September and Afternoon Tea with Travel Writer Kate Nivison on 12th October. 

There is also The Big Red Read Awards Night on 4th October at Gants Hill Library (7pm start).  Readers across the Borough have been voting for their favourite fiction and non-fiction reads of 2011 and there is still time to vote!  Go to; http://www.redbridge.gov.uk/cms/leisure_and_libraries/libraries/big_red_read.aspx for details or ask at any Redbridge Library.  The Awards Night is great fun and tickets are free!

Do try and get to some of the Festival Events and take a look at some of the great things happening in our neighbouring Boroughs too! In particular, try to get along to the First East London Reading Group conference, an all-day event on 8th October at the Docklands Campus of the University of East London. The Conference will address a wide-range of topics of interest to members of Reading Groups or people who just love literature and libraries! For details of the Conference and to book a free place, contact Anna Robinson on 07913 107 994 or a.robinson@uel.ac.uk.

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Gordon Gano and The Ryans - Gone To Pray.

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