From the archives #10: Pivotal Moments at Suffolk Book League

At times, Suffolk Book League has intersected with notable contemporary or recent events, mostly through our speakers, who have occasionally had direct involvement at pivotal points. Several of our speakers have been politicians, and although some, like Michael Foot (in June 1997 speaking about H. G. Wells) avoided current happenings, others have made direct reference to them. In February 1999 Chris Mullin (then Labour MP for Sunderland South (1)) came to talk about his thriller novels, but also spoke memorably on his long campaign for justice for the men found guilty of the 1974 Birmingham pub bombings (the Birmingham Six). His book, Error of Judgement, was published in 1986, but it was not until 1991 that the convictions were quashed. Mullin was very interesting on the obstacles put in his way, including resistance from civil servants who should have been more neutral (including possibly my Uncle John, who was then working for the DPP -- Director of Public Prosecutions).

SBL has also welcomed more than one journalist to our stages and in October 1997 we were lucky enough to secure Martin Bell, originally to discuss his father Adrian Bell, a rural Suffolk writer of some renown in the earlier twentieth century. However, that year Bell junior, a highly respected BBC reporter, embarked on a fairly brief political career when he became Independent MP for Tatton, defeating Neil Hamilton -- the sitting Tory MP -- in what was deemed a safe seat. Before this, he worked in many countries and many wars, including the Bosnian war (2) ,becoming known for his ‘lucky’ white suit (3) which I recall became a metaphor for his approach to politics, as the moral man campaigning against sleaze.

A journalist who found himself the pivotal point of a hostage crisis was Brian Keenan, whose autobiographical book An Evil Cradling recorded his life-changing four years as a hostage in Beirut. His talk in October 2010 was recorded as being wide-ranging, including the observation that ‘there was a theme throughout his life of how the inner life of imagination can provide escape and how physical desolation and isolation can be managed by utilising one’s memory, dreams and contact with ghosts … some of his comments about his spiritual side were a little confusing’ (4). Surely this suggests that his approach to metaphysics must have been mediated by his experiences and suffering whilst in captivity? Food for thought. 

1. Parry, A. Programme, Booktalk, 1999, January/February/March, (93): 1-2.

2. Parry, A. Programme, Booktalk, 1997, September/October, (87): 3.

3. BBC On this day: Martin Bell, 2005, http://news.bbc.co.uk/onthisday/hi/correspondents/newsid_2625000/2625151.stm

4. McElhinney, K. For those who couldn’t make it …Brian Keenan, Booktalk, 2010, December, (141): 7.

   
   

Janet Bayliss