Cider with Rosie revisited

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Date/Time
Date(s) - 02/11/2019
11:00 am - 3:00 pm

Location
Stroud railway station

Categories


Cider with Rosie revisited

Continuing our Between the Lines walking reader’s book club we revisit Cider with Rosie, Laurie Lee’s seminal autobiographical novel that was published 60 years ago in 1959 with a walk that includes a opportunities for participants to create their own souvenir illustrations for the book. 

We are led by Kel Portman, on an intriguing route that takes us through the village of Slad in Gloucestershire, where Laurie Lee was brought up in the 1920s.  The village then was rarely visited, like many Gloucestershire villages, it’s remoteness enhanced by its steep valley sides.  Lee was one of eight children brought up in poverty by his single mother, who lived in futile hope that she would be reunited with her husband. 

Photo credit: Wikipedia commons

In Cider with Rosie we read the words of a a lyrical poet, and expert story teller whose vivid and evocative writing brings the village, his childhood home and the local school, and the natural environs to life.  Remarkably, the landscape that inspired his work remains largely intact as does his childhood home, church, school and Woolpack Inn. 

Safeguarded by the Gloucestershire Wildlife Trust and through designation as an historic landscape, this part of the Cotswolds remains idyllic.  The centenary of Laurie Lee’s birth some five years ago brought further acclaim to the author and international interest to this part of the country.  

Millions of copies of ‘Cider with Rosie’ have been sold, and since its publication it has probably become his best-loved work.  It was dramatised by the BBC in 1971 and became a recommended read for many studying English literature at school in the 1970s and 80s  

What you need to know

Participants are advised to bring their own packed lunch, as although we will be calling at the Woolpack Inn, it is somewhat erratic in its lunch provision.  

We are offering two start points – for those who would like to spend longer in the Cotswolds, we will be starting from Stroud station at 11.00am.  For those who want to make their way to Slad by other means than by foot, we suggest a 12 Noon start from a point on our route.  We are currently negotiating places to park cars.  So when you book, please indicate if you are happy to  to take the longer route by foot, by selecting the appropriate ticket.

If travelling from London by train – recommend that you take the 0900 from Paddington that arrives after a change at Swindon at 10.43 – the start of the walk is within 2 miles (we will be arranging a shared taxi). 

Prices:

£18 in advance  before 25th October / £20 thereafter / £25 on the day / Concessions £12

When booking tickets we ask you to provide your name , email and mobile phone number – we only use your e mail to send a reminder of the event, and should last minute changes occur to an event, we can text you details on the day (if you provide your phone number).

Please print off your receipt and bring to start of the event as proof of ticket purchase

Walking in Step with Kel Portman

Bookings

Bookings are closed for this event.