2007 News

December 2007

Doris Long from the U.S. has come across an interesting new book by Australian author Vicki Archer called My French Life. It is sure to appeal to Lady Fortescue fans - see the full entry in the Visitors Book.

My French Life by Vicki Archer

A reminder from Vicky Jones in Shropshire, the new BBC production of Sense and Sensibility, by Jane Austen, starts on BBC 1 on the 1st January 2008. The filming locations used are at Hartland Abbey in Devon which has strong links to Lady Fortescue. (See Vicky's entry in the Visitors Book). If you missed it you can watch it again on the BBC's excellent new iPlayer, along with most other BBC programmes. Click on this link to watch it now!
It was -1c in Nice on Friday morning! (14th Dec).
Original signature by Sir John Fortescue has been added to his page.
Seasonal decoration and some gently falling snow added for December!

November 2007

October 2007

'Two Vagabonds in Languedoc', the splendid 1920's book by Jan & Cora Gordon, was recently re-published thanks to Ken Bryant who has researched the Gordon's for 30 years. His web site giving much information about their life, writing and their art is now on line and can be visited at www.janandcoragordon.co.uk Do have a look, if you like Lady Fortescue, you will like this.

September 2007

More improvements to existing images continue to be made and new photo's have been added of the Old Rectory at Great Bealings, the carvings in the church at Great Bealings and Winifred's grave at Opio, all courtesy of Maureen Emerson. If you have any photo's you would like to see on the site, please get in touch.

August 2007

2008 may prove to be a bumper year for Fortescue fans. Maureen Emerson's new book 'Escape to Provence' will be published in the Spring and a new publisher is considering a re-print of 'Sunset House'. Negotiations are at an early stage but if successful it may also be in print as early as next Spring. More information when available.
What a month, the weather in the south has been glorious but back in Warwickshire we came close to constructing an ark! One of the great advantages of the broadband revolution is that web pages open very quickly, this means you can use higher quality images on the pages so I am starting to work my way through some of the early images and replace them where possible. Thus far the Home page and the Book page have been enhanced and better quality images replace the originals on the pages for Shepherds Market, Mountain Madness and Ramatuelle (St. Tropez). There is also a much better picture of Sir John Fortescue on the appropriate page. New pages to come in the not too distant future.

July 2007

More book news - 'Escape to Provence' by Maureen Emerson is a step nearer to completion and will now be published by Orford Books early in 2008. Keep an eye on the web site for ordering information nearer the time.
'Two Vagabonds in Languedoc' has recently been republished and is certain to appeal to all fans of Lady Fortescue. Written in the 1920's by writers and artists, Jan and Cora Gordon, it includes a new introduction and preface by their biographer Ken Bryant. Click here for full details.

New pictures of Opio Village have been added together with a distant photo of the Chemin de fer de Provence steam train in action!

June 2007

Having just been staying in the south there will be some photo updates to come soon. I took the opportunity to visit Major Lawrence Johnson's gardens at Serre de la Madone. Johnson also created Hidcote Manor Gardens in the Cotswolds, now owned by the National Trust. A new page with a slide show of the gardens has been added. Click here to visit.
Interesting new entries in the Visitors Book.

May 2007

2007 marks the 150th anniversary of Sir Edward Elgar. The great composer was a neighbour of John & Winifred when they lived at Admiral's House, Hampstead Heath and they would sometimes visit to hear his new works. Visit the Classic FM website to see the Elgar page and read about their week of special events between 26th May - 2nd June.
New page with photo's of Winifred and John's first house at 15, Brompton Square, London and Holy Trinity Church, Sloane Street, Kensington, where their wedding ceremony took place in 1914. Click here.
Visit The Domaine gardens. Winifred's original garden at The Domaine, (now Fort France), near Grasse is open on Saturday & Sunday 2nd & 3rd June 2007. There are guided tours each day between 9am and 11am. Price €10 per person. Booking is obligatory via the Grasse Tourist Information Office on 0033 (0) 4 93 36 66 66. For more information on the garden, which has recently featured in two more French magazines, click here.

April 2007

Additional photograph's added to Brittany page.
Link to the Tour de France 2007 which this year starts in London over the weekend of July 7th & 8th.

March 2007

The 74th Fete du Citron recently took place in Menton. Although not directly connected with Lady Fortescue she may well have made a visit during her time in France. A fete or a carnival often feature in her books. Click here to see a page full of photographs.
'Escape to Provence' by Maureen Emerson. This exciting new book is one step nearer to publication. A new page has been added to keep visitors abreast of developments and includes a picture of the working cover showing Elisabeth Starr. Click here to visit now.

Feb 2007

Would you like to take a holiday in Elisabeth Starr's former home? Featured in most of Winifred Fortescue's books, the Castello San Peyre at Opio is available to rent. For photo's and more details visit the new page by clicking here.

Castello San Peyre

A copy of the February 1942 edition of 'La Lettre de la France Libre', (news of the Free French movement), produced at their HQ in Carlton Gardens, London, has come to light. The booklet would have been produced during the time Winifred was working for their cause in England. It has a number of interesting articles & photo's. You can download and read the whole booklet. Click here.

A splendid new web cam with live video as been installed by the Nice Office of Tourism with views along the Promenade des Anglais. Winter is almost over in the south, check the weather! Click here.

Jan 2007