2012-02-07: Robin Prosper Saville (1928 - 2012)

It is with great sadness that we announce the death of Robin Saville, who died on 25th January after a long illness. He was 83. Robin was the elder son of Malcolm Saville and was President of the Society from 1999 to 2002.

Robin Saville's funeral service was held at St Michael's Church, Playden near Rye on 6th February. Despite heavy snowfall the previous day, the service was very well attended by family and friends. Society members present included Mark O'Hanlon, Kim Spencer, Roy Thomas, and Patrick Tubby all of whom regarded Robin as a close friend. A true gentleman who had such enthusiasm and pride for the Society established to celebrate his father's life and literary work. Robin always showed such gratitude to all the members he met who loved his father's books. He gave his whole-hearted support to the Society during its formative years.

A fuller tribute will be included in Acksherley!

2012-02-07: Ely - Early Autumn in the Fens

Details of this event are now available, please see the Forthcoming Events section of the website.

2012-01-31: Committee News

Strategic and day-to-day management of The Malcolm Saville Society is vested in an elected Committee of between six and twelve members. The Committee's responsibility is to ensure that the Society's objective is being maintained, namely to promote interest and research into the work and life of Leonard Malcolm Saville. It does this by reviewing past practices, improving existing activities and processes, and introducing new ideas.

On 15th April, four members of the committee who have all served for six years or more, will be standing down at our AGM which will be held in the Darwin Suite of The Prince Rupert Hotel Shrewsbury. So any offers to serve will be warmly welcomed. If you think that you could contribute to the running of the Society and are willing to do so, please ask two other members to support you then complete this Committee Nomination Form. The completed form can be forwarded to the Secretary online, or printed off and forwarded by post or in person. Please note that online or postal nominations must be received by 5 pm on Thursday 5th April, but nominations may be handed to the Secretary at Shrewsbury until 7 pm on Saturday 14th April.

2012-01-30: Forthcoming Events - Dates for your Diary

Dates of forthcoming events to be held later this year were confirmed at a committee meeting on 28th January. They are:

WEST SOMERSET - THE QUANTOCK HILLS (8th-10th June) organized by Colin Harding and Ray Ham-Longman

ELY - EARLY AUTUMN IN THE FENS (28th-30th September) organized by Jenny Aitken and Frank Shepperd

LEWES - NOVEMBER BONFIRE (2nd-5th November) organized by Ray Ham-Longman

Further information with registration details will be posted shortly on the Forthcoming Events section of this site. Similar information will be mailed with Acksherley!

2012-01-29: Annual Gathering - Shrewsbury - Update

We were delighted to learn from Joy Tubby that at the closing date for registrations, 77 members had signed up to attend the Annual Gathering from 13th to 15th April. As there is still room for a few more, Joy has kindly agreed to continue accepting registrations up to 2nd March, but emphasises that they must be accompanied by full payment. So if you were thinking of coming along but had not actually got around to registering, please do so. Shrewsbury is one of the best known locations associated with Saville, The Prince Rupert Hotel is a superb venue. Society members are a friendly welcoming bunch, and they would love to see you.

Joy has also asked us to remind existing registrants who have not already done so, to send her the balance of payment by 2nd March please.

For updated details of the annual gathering programme, please see the Forthcoming Events section of the website.

2012-01-12: Onnybrook Station Holiday Cottage

Two of our members, Pam and Dave McKee, are the present owners of a former railway cottage at Marshbrook near Church Stretton that is now available for let as holiday accommodation. They are offering a 10% discount on their normal rates for Society members. Further information may be obtained from them, their contact e-mail is davpam.mck@btinternet.com.

After a day walking the Shropshire Hills say, what could be better than relaxing over a glass or two in a railway cottage at Onnybrook and wondering who might have lived there? Way back in 1943, was it George the old porter pictured on page 17 of Mystery at Witchend, or the brown-faced signalman leaning from the window of his box?

2011-12-11: Photo Competition - Closing date changed

We have only received a few entries for our Photographic Competition. In view of this it has been decided to move the closing date back to the 24th February, 2012. This will give members a little more time to submit entries.

2011-12-02: John Pentney

It is with great sadness that we announce the death of John Pentney, who died on 20th November. He was 60.

Many of us will always remember John for his gutsy determination (which although not an elegant phrase is an accurate one). He had been ill for a long time, yet was determined to enjoy as full a life as he could for as long as he could. Together with his wife Jo, he was a loyal supporter of our social events, having attended almost all of them over the last four years. Last year on the Stiperstones, he chose to attempt the long walk option and he completed it. John and Jo joined us in Amsterdam two months ago and, happily, celebrated their wedding anniversary with us. Sadly, John's condition deteriorated shortly afterwards but just seven days before he died, he joined us at Bridgnorth for the train trip and although frail, managed to climb up onto the footplate of one of his beloved steam engines for what proved to be the last time.

John liked to be actively involved with the Society and often contributed well-researched historical articles. He edited the Souvenir programme for our Annual Gatherings in 2008, 2009 and 2010, was a member of the 2009 organizing team in Somerset and, with Jo, organized the very successful Jurassic Coast event earlier this year. His wide ranging knowledge and dry wit will be sorely missed.

At his funeral on 1st December at Taunton Dene Crematorium, the Society was represented by Ian and Jenny Aitken, Kathleen Elliott, Susan Graham, Jane Noble, Frank Shepperd and David Smith. We hope to include a fuller tribute in issue 47 of Acksherley!

2011-11-19: Committee Minutes now on website

In response to a written suggestion from Susan Graham supported by Bernard Meade, the Committee agreed that to improve communication, minutes of their meetings should be published on the members' only section of the website. Accordingly, the minutes of a meeting on 22nd October have now been added.

To download a copy of the minutes, please login, then select 'Download minutes of Committee Meetings' to view a list of available documents. The documents will be in PDF format.

2011-11-14: Shropshire - A November Walk and Railway Weekend

11th - 13th November 2011

A full report of this event has now been added to the Recent Events section of the website.

2011-11-11: Acksherley No 46 issued

The latest edition of Acksherley! has been dispatched and should have arrived for most UK members by now. Once again Steven Handy has produced an excellent magazine, with lots of interesting articles for you to browse away your evenings.

2011-10-24: Society Rules now online

At the request of the Committee, the current Society Rules have been added to the website. These can be accessed by going to the Society page and clicking on the link in the left margin.

2011-10-14: The Surprising Amsterdam Weekend

A full report of The Surprising Amsterdam Weekend has now been added to the Recent Events section of the website.

2011-08-30: Liberal England

This website is the last place one would expect to find a plug for a political blog spot, but one that in turn plugs Malcolm Saville and the Society, deserves special treatment. Liberal England is described as an amusingly eclectic mix of culture and politics by Jonathan Calder. Our interests are the word culture and the facts that Jonathan was at one time our Press Officer and a former Editor of Acksherley!

One of his recent blogs is called The road from Bridges to the Stiperstones. It includes extracts from Seven White Gates and also includes an interesting link to The Bridges which is the new name for the former Horseshoes Inn at the hamlet, now owned by the Three Tuns Brewery at Bishops Castle.This hostelry is of course, better known to us as The Hope Anchor.

See www.liberalengland.blogspot.com and key in Malcolm Saville.

2011-08-12: Shropshire - A November Walk and Railway Weekend

Details of this weekend, 11th - 13th November, have now been finalised. It will include a walk along Offas Dyke, and a trip on The Severn Valley Railway to visit The Engine House at Highley. See Forthcoming Events for further information and to register online.

2011-08-06: 2012 Annual Gathering update

Members should now have received a registration leaflet (circulated with Acksherley!) and we advise you to register and secure accommodation without delay, as numbers have to be limited to 110. For more information, see Forthcoming Events.

A PLEA TO ALL MEMBERS - contributions with subject matter relating to Shropshire are needed for the Souvenir Programme. If you think you have anything suitable, please contact Kim Spencer as soon as possible (details in Peewit).

2011-07-22: Sally's Stable becomes a Holiday Cottage

Members may like to know that the present owners of Cwm Head House at Church Stretton, have converted the former stable block into a small holiday cottage for two that is now available for hire. It is called Stable Cottage and further information can be obtained from Susie Allan, whose contact e-mail is susieallan@mac.com.

When they lived at Cwm Head during the Second World War, the Saville children were given a hill-pony called Sally. They had a great deal of fun with her and it is widely believed that she was the model for Peter's Sally in Mystery at Witchend. One day though, so the story goes, the real Sally escaped back into her natural environment on the Long Mynd and was never seen again. (See Beyond the Lone Pine page 30).

2011-06-17: Ramblings - 'utterly fantastic'

'Utterly fantastic' was Acksherley! Editor Steven Handy's comment, when he learned that over 20 copies of Issue 44 had recently been mailed out to new members.

Those on the walk were first made aware of the wider interest shown in the programme by Claire Balding, whose opening remark when she first met them at Hamperley was 'There have been lots of messages about Malcolm Saville on Twitter this morning.

That the membership liked it was never in doubt. Many met up for the Two Fair Plaits weekend on the day of the first 6 am broadcast and it was a great topic of conversation. Later, a member wrote on Facebook: 'I thought 'Ramblings' was excellent, the best in the series. Well done to all involved. It was an engaging mixture of interesting people, Society connections and an evocative description of this beautiful part of the country.'

Independent feedback was even more impressive. A Shropshire bookseller reportedly '... received two book orders via the internet even before her shop had opened ... and she enjoyed the programme as well!' Amazingly, Hej from Copenhagen e-mailed: 'I've just listened to the MSS BBC Ramblings programme - most enjoyable, atmospheric and informative. As a devoted Houseman fan ... (I found it) irresistible.' Malcolm's daughter, Rosemary Dowler, wrote to say that after listening to Ramblings, a member of her local book club had telephoned asking to borrow some Lone Pine titles for a re-read. But best of all was the following:

'I was listening to Radio 4 and was intrigued ... Ramblings ... was about Shropshire ... where a number of Malcolm Saville books were set. Malcolm Saville was my uncle ... who often visited us at Brede. ... David Saville also visited and was a great influence on me as I went on to Art School. ... I am the youngest of four boys ... (later) we lived at 30 Watchbell Street in Rye (and we) all went to the Grammar school ... which is now a huge comprehensive. I was delighted to discover that there is a Malcolm Saville Society and wish it every success.' (From Paul Saville).

The end result of all this was succinctly summed up by Membership Registrar, Claire Mayne, who two days ago e-mailed: 'Thought you might like to know that the excellent Radio 4 Programme has generated a flurry of new members, 11 from Radio Programme ... 2 from the internet ... plus 1 other.

Issue 45 of Acksherley! due to be published shortly, includes Susan Graham's impressions of her memorable day. Fittingly, she concludes it by writing: 'Jenny Aitken is to be congratulated for organizing this opportunity to promote Malcolm Saville.

2011-06-07: Dates for your Diary

2011. November.

A Shropshire walk. The date, location and details are still to be confirmed.

2012. 8th - 10th June.

West Somerset. This weekend will most probably be based at Taunton and will feature a walk over the Quantock Hills and a trip on the West Somerset Railway.

2012. 28th - 30th September.

Ely. Our base will be 'The Island City of the Fens' which featured prominently in The Luck of Sallowby. The weekend will include cycling trips and more gentle sightseeing to cater for all abilities!

2012. November.

Lewes. A November walk and bonfire weekend, themed upon Four and Twenty Blackbirds. The date will be that of the Lewes Bonfire weekend which is not yet confirmed, but will most probably be the 3rd and 4th.

2013. 5th - 7th April.

Richmond. Annual Gathering and AGM. We return to North Yorkshire, where three of Saville's books were set and we may also venture into Cumbria, Strangers at Snowfell country.

More details on all of the above will be added to the Forthcoming Events section of the website in due course.

2011-06-06: Two Fair Plaits Weekend

A full report of the Two Fair Plaits weekend has now been added to the Recent Events section of the website.

2011-05-28: Society on Radio 4

The Society recently participated in a Radio 4 programme in the Walking with Clare Balding series. A small number of members were invited to take a walk over the Long Mynd during which the programme was recorded. It is due to be transmitted on June 4th at 6.05am and again on June 9th at 3pm. Members should set their alarm clocks so as not to miss this event!

Of course, those who have Internet access will be aware that the programme will be available on iPlayer from the BBC's website for a week after the broadcast.

2011-05-26: Committe and Other Changes

Further to the Rye AGM and a subsequent committee meeting in May, your committe is now:

Jenny Aitken
George Elliott
Kath Elliott
Cathy Elton - Deputy Chair
Chris Elton
Rachel Everson
Ray Ham-Longman
Mike McGarry - Treasurer
Bill Purvis - Secretary and Website Manager
Frank Shepperd - Chairman
Kim Spencer
Alan Stone

Other significant post holders who are not Committee members are:

Steven Handy - Acksherley! Editor
Claire Longman - Librarian
Claire Mayne - Membership Registrar

2011-05-25: Annual Gathering - Rye

A full report of the Rye gathering weekend has now been added to the Recent Events section of the website.

2011-05-04: Change of Address Details

The postal address for Acksherley! editor, Steven Handy, has changed. The new details are:

5 High Street, Upper Green, Tettenhall, Wolverhampton, WV6 8QS

Steven's email address remains sbhrgt@aol.com and he looks forward to receiving articles from the membership. He is currently preparing the summer issue which is due out in July.

2011-03-11: Robert Smart's Book - Church Stretton and South Shropshire Walks

This book was first published by the late Robert Smart in 1970 and has been revised many times since with over 44,000 copies sold. It describes 20 walks in the area. Where appropriate, part of the description mentions connections to Malcolm Saville’s Lone Pine stories, which is of particular interest to members, and Robert formerly offered them a direct mail order service to obtain copies. A link on this site provided details.

Christine Walker has now advised that following Robert’s sad death last January, Mrs Smart will be moving house and can no longer handle mail orders. Accordingly, Christine has kindly agreed to provide the service on her behalf and the link has been modified; briefly a copy may be obtained by mailing your cheque for £3-90 directly to Christine.

It was Robert’s expressed wish that a donation should be made to the Society for all such orders received. We are honoured to acknowledge his moving and enduring tribute to the Society – a fine reminder of a very special man.

Address details on the Publications page.

2011-02-15: Robert Smart

It is with great sadness that we announce the death of Robert Smart, who died on 25th January after a long illness. He was 75. Robert was a long-standing member of the Malcolm Saville Society and many similarly long-standing members knew him personally, but all will remember his News from Shropshire articles that appeared regularly in Acksherley! The last of these written in November 2010 will appear in issue 44 which is due to be published shortly. His best known book is Church Stretton and South Shropshire Walks in which the description of each walk includes details of Lone Pine connections where applicable.

At his funeral on 14th February in The United Reform Chapel, Church Stretton, the Society was represented by John Allsup, Clive Gee, George and Sue Gent, Richard Griffiths, Guy Hawley, Bernard Meade, Mark O’Hanlon, Kim Spencer, Roy Thomas and Christine Walker. We hope to include a fuller tribute in issue 45 of Acksherley!