Leaving In Style

There was a big funeral in town today, that took place at St Peter's Church.

The weather wasn't very nice, but the two horses that were pulling the hearse didn't seem to mind. Fortunately the driver had his heavy clock and top hat to keep him dry.

While I was passing, a lot of people emerged into the street from the church. So whoever it was must have had a lot of friends and a lot of money, as hiring one of those hearses can't be cheap. In fact I've only ever seen them in movies; especially those featuring East End gangsters.

Whilst I had a quick look on Twitter this afternoon, I came across a post from someone who had also taken a photo of the hearse, who also works for BBC Radio Nottingham. But what was interesting, was the message that came with it. They had been to the funeral and had said whose it was. A former local ballet teacher called Nora Morrison.

Doing a quick search on Google, revealed that she was 98 and had taught ballet since the 1930s, and was still teaching up to her death. She received an MBE in 2010. Apparently she was very well known in Nottingham, but unfortunately not to me.

Writer's Block

I happened to be in the right place at the right time this morning, when I visited my local library, as a small awards ceremony took place for local novelists.

The Great Beeston Book Read has been a six month competition where people have read and voted on eight books from local writers, ranging from a children's book, a thriller and the winning novel; an historical mystery.

Ripples And Shadows tells the story of a history professor who finds some 200 year old journals, written by someone who lived at a country house, where they were discovered.

I've got a copy of the book from the library today, so I'll see what it's like.

Here's a photo of the winning author Stephen Taylor receiving his trophy from BBC Radio Nottingham's John Holmes (right of picture).