2010 News

December 2010

December saw the end of the year with most of the UK freezing with frost, snow and ice. Although not on the same scale it also snowed in the south of France, even at sea level which is quite unusual. Maureen Emerson's talk in November in Warwickshire was a great success with over 60 people in the audience and a good number of copies of her book 'Escape to Provence' sold on the day. Look out for her book on sale in the French Book Shop at the 'France Show 2011', Earls Court, London, 14th - 16th January 2011. This is the UK's largest show devoted to France. 'Escape to Provence' will be on sale in the French Book Shop at the show.

November 2010

A new video interview with Maureen Emerson is now available thanks to Anna Fill of The Riviera Woman web site, click here to view it now. A timely reminder that Maureen will be speaking in Warwickshire on 18th November 2010.

'The Story Of The Author Winifred, Lady Fortescue,
and The Expatriates Of Provence Between The Two World Wars.'
University Of The 3rd Age, Kenilworth, Warwickshire, U.K.
Thursday 18th November 2010, 2.30pm,
Methodist Church Centre, Priory Rd, Kenilworth, Warwickshire.
Visitors are very welcome £1 admission.

Another old aerial postcard view of Opio & Chateauneuf villages added. Click here.

October 2010

A recent re-visit to Sackville Street in Westminster indicated that No.28, the home of Winifred's 'Cintra' dress making and interior design business, may still be there. In recent years a new building has been built and that currently bears the Number 28 but a look at the architecture of No. 29, one of the original buildings, hints at door to the right possibly being the original No. 28. New photo added, click here.

September 2010

If you are near the centre of England, an opportunity to hear Maureen Emerson talk in November!

The new Sunny Bank retirement home, called 'Victoria', at Mouans-Sartoux, near cannes is now open and receiving its first guests. To see photo's of the new complex visit the Cannes page.

Sunny Bank Retirement Home, Mouans-Sartoux.

August 2010

A list of new venues at which Maureen Emerson is speaking is now available, click here to view the page on this site or visit www.maureenemerson.co.uk

July 2010

Apologies if you have not received a reply to an email in recent weeks. It has only just come to light that the ISP, Orange, have had some of their outgoing mailing addresses blocked by a third party anti spam company. As as result email to certain ISP address have not been delivered. Examples are tiscali.co.uk and virgin.net plus many others. The sender is unaware they have not been delivered. Orange believe they have now solved the problem but if you have been expecting a reply and not received one please email again.

June 2010

The Domaine, (Villa Fort France). Details of 2010 visiting arrangement to the gardens are now on The Domaine page.

Author Maureen Emerson now has a page on Facebook and a small web site where you can read more about the articles she has been researching and working on. Details will still continue to appear on her page on this site of course. A series of talks will take place in France and the U.K. in the autumn.

Follow Maureen on Facebook

A short video of Maureen talking about her publication 'Escape to Provence', (kindly provided by Alice Barker of AMB-Cote d'azur), is now available on her page, click here to view. Some people experienced problems viewing the movie so it is now installed in a simple format which will play automatically when you open the page. The video will loop so if you miss the start you can watch it again. Make sure your sound is turned on!

May 2010

The Chemin de Fer de Provence will once again be operating its steam service between May and October 2010. Re-live the narrow gauge steam train that Winifred & John Fortescue used to watch from their garden. Visit the CDFP page for full details and a link to their timetable.

April 2010

Archive photographs and a plan of the Douane - Coastguard buildings at Ramatuelle, St. Tropez have been added. Winifred & Elisabeth took holidays in these buildings while work was carried out on Sunset House.

March 2010

Our favourite author, (after Winifred Forstecue!), Maureen Emerson gave a splendid talk and slide show to a gathered audience at the Bath Royal Literary and Scientific Institution last month. Not one to sit back and rest, Maureen has been working on two more projects recently. The first of these is a piece on the life of Hélène Vagliano who was active in the French resistance. Her family had moved from Ascot in Berkshire to Cannes in the south of France in the 1920's. To read the full and very moving story of this incredibly brave young woman who was tortured and murdered by the Gestapo, click here.

February 2010

Maureen Emerson, the author of 'Escape to Provence', is giving an illustrated talk in Bath on Tuesday 23rd February 2010. If you are in the south west of England this is a great opportunity to hear Maureen in person. Full details on the 'Escape to Provence' page.

Escape to Provence by Maureen Emerson, published July 2008

January 2010

Better quality photographs and some early postcard views added to the Grasse page and CDFP page, and better photographs added to the page on the Association des Francais Libres.

Welcome to the site in 2010. All last years updates and news items are now in the archive where they can be viewed at leisure. This year sees more talks by author Maureen Emerson, author of 'Escape to Provence.' Unfortunately Maureen was unable to attend the France Show at Earls Court in January as planned due to the bad weather conditions. More new pages will also be added to the site.