Photograph of John Harvey by Philippe Matsas
Like books? Like food? Like Nottingham? Then you are, to paraphrase Barrymore, my kind of people. The Alan Sillitoe Memorial Lunch will celebrate the author who told us he was only out for a good time and all the rest was propaganda on 21 April. The guest speaker at the lunch will be the finest crime writer the city has ever produced, John Harvey. This is just one of many events being put on this year as part of the Sillitoe Season, proceeds from which will go towards the statue fund.
John Harvey is the blues loving author of the Resnick novels and so this event will sell out before you’ve even got to the bottom of the page. So make sure you book early. If spending time with this bestselling author isn’t enough then maybe this will entice you. There’s a free car park. Seriously! Half of Nottingham is still fuming at the council for extending parking pricing till 8pm so imagine the sheer delight of being able to drive somewhere without a jobs-worth lurking around the corner and slapping a fine on your windscreen. If that hasn’t got you salivating how about the ‘quality raffle.’ Quality means signed books by authors rather than left-over presents from Christmas or a fiver’s worth of goodies from the half-price sale at Pound Stretcher. And who could resist the temptation of discovering exactly what a ‘colcannon’ potato is from the set menu. I haven’t been this excited since a bunch of aliens on TV suggested adding hot water to Smash. The menu also includes a vegetarian option and for once it isn’t microwaved lasagne. It’s vegetable Wellington with seasonal vegetables.
But in all seriousness, once you’ve necked your free drink on arrival, this event is about remembering a truly great and inspirational writer. This will be done through a display board detailing key events from Sillitoe’s life as well as an entertaining talk from John Harvey, a genuinely charismatic and engaging speaker. Feel free to bring along books to be signed, don’t worry about dress code, and remember, for one day the bastards can’t grind you down because you get to park for free.
To read an interview with John Harvey
Vital Statistics
Saturday 21 April 2012 (12.15pm for 1.00pm start)
Welbeck Banqueting, Welbeck Road, West Bridgford, Nottingham NG2 7QW
To join in please send a cheque for £22.50 made payable to The Alan Sillitoe Committee to c/o Alan Sillitoe Committee, 38 Harrow Road, West Bridgford, Nottingham NG2 7DU. Tel: 0115 9145838 email: viv.apple (at)ntlworld.com
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