OLD GIRLS
The launch of Animated Nature by Richard Bonfield
Joan Bonfield welcomed Virginia MacKenna at the party to celebrate the launch of her son Richard's latest collection of poems. Richard is the Poet in Residence for the Born Free Foundation. Old Girl, Eileen Hubbard, was also present with Richard's many friends and supporters. Malvern St James old Girls' Association is proud to be associated with the publication of the poems and is mentioned in the list at the beginning of the book.
It was clear who was a close friend of family member because they were all, Joan included, wearing very groovy black rugger shirts with a photo of the front cover of 'Animated Nature'. This shows a diving kingfisher by the world renowned animal painter Pollyanna Pickering, who was also there with her daughter Anna-Louise,an extremely accomplished wild life photographer.
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| Pollyanna Pickering, Richard, Virginia McKenna |
Elisabeth Rambridge made the journey from Malvern to join in the festivities and received an incredibly warm welcome from Joan and Richard. Richard was the one person it was hard to take a photo of because there was such a throng around him waiting patiently for him to sign and attribute each book with loving care.
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The Born Free Foundation team were there in force with Virginia's books and other items available to buy. In another part of Christopher Bonfield's house, Pollyanna Pickering was selling her paintings and more than happy to sign books. The OGA copy of Animated Nature is signed by Virginia and Pollyanna. Everywhere there were the most exquisite flower arrangements by Veryan, a friend of Richard's who had come all the way from Cornwall as her contribution to the celebration. Beside the Born Free stand estrelitzas, birds of paradise, seemed to reinforce the message of the Born Free campaign. And then came the time for Richard to speak and to read some of his treasured favourites, explaining how they had come about. Eileen Hubbard described Animated Nature as a ‘triumph'. The event raised £1000 for Visit Born Free, which was wonderful.
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Richard's work had first come to Virginia's attention when she read his poem ‘The Beautiful Alphabet' where a child asks her parents where the tigers, elephants, and dolphins have gone. “They have buried themselves in our imagination”, they replied, “Then they switched out the light in their daughter's eyes.”
Joan and Elisabeth were thrilled to meet each other and through Richard, they correspond in flurries of much affection!
On Thursday September 30th from 10 to 10.30 am, Richard will be interviewed in Radio Leicester's studios by Ted Robbins, following Virginia McKenna's tour of the local BBC Radio Stations in order to promote Born Free's work.
http://www.bornfree.org.uk/get-involved/wildlife-poetry/
http://www.richardbonfield.com/
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| Eileen, Joan and Elisabeth |
Malvern St James