News and Events
See Here for Latest Developments in the Midhurst Memoirs and No 1 Balloon projects
16 May 2025
Book 4 took time to get some major edits made, that being expected as its production was the long last in the 4 book series, for which the initial research stage began in 2013. Thanks to the powers above I was able to use the POD method in a consistent manner to produce an attractive set of books.
They are also all published as e-books.
The books were never written for monetary reward. They are my gift to the Midhurst District people, and the world at large, to thank them for my most pleasant and formative years as a child growing up and receiving a sound basic education in Midhurst and Easebourne
The research needed to fill in the back-story of the war led me to understand what was taking place. Few people would know that . My intention was to produce a concise account thar paints the situation in a resonable time of reading.
The use of the POD publication method guarantees availablilty, into a future, where digital underpinning and internatiional cooperation has allows purchase of even a single book at market price - at least until the next revolution comes in publishing methodology.
At present the books are all sold only on-line being delivered in a few days to your door.
My thanks go out to the numerous people that have assisted me with their contributions to build a history that is based on real events and using many colour images.
To make the material occasionally available at zero cost to readers, the four book sets are available in some local libraries for reference reading.
Sadly Harvey Tordoff, who assisted me in the last years of this project, died after Book 4 publication was complete, meaning he is not listed in its Honour Board of Local Historians.
There are other local topics needing to be researched for WW2 times of the Midhurst District. The most obvious is an account of the Commando troops, based in Cowdray House. Surely Lord Lovat deserves a full size bronze in the Cowdray Park, standing next to where his fellow commando lived and trained.
The books form the back story of what it was like during WW2, a war never to be repeated by a handful of cruel dictators driving millions of peace-loving humans to be brutal and destructive, not
understanding that love of our all our fellows is the exclusive way to live on a crowded Earth!
Enjoy.
30 April 2025
The RAeS plaque was unveiled by RAeS leadership on 30 April 2025. I was not able to attend due to poorly health. That event is being added to an updated version of the No 1 Centre book soon to be re-released,
22 September 2024
RAeS plaque now installed at the Depot Pub in Kidbrooke. The unveiling ceremony date is still to be set.
No 1 Balloon Centre book is being updated to include this event notice,
Book 4 of the Midhurst Memoirs has reached the production stage where pictures are added to the Word files for each chapter as the pages are set up for printing.
10 July 2024
Revised site for the RAeS memorial plaque to No 1 Balloon Centre at the Depot pub in Kidbrooke is now approved by the RAeS. Unveiling details are being planned now.
19 Jun 2024
Having had to move the RAeS plaque to the Depot Pub, the RAeS have requested a revised application. That was submiitted on 1 May 2024. Watch this space!
Book 4, the last, is coming on well. I am now preparing Chapter 8 of around 11 needed.
5 January 2024
The No 1 Balloon Centre, Kidbrooke book is now published and is available online from many distributors world wide
Work on the Midihurst Memoirs Book 4 is again back on track. Now at Chapter 4.
24 November 2023
Review of Book 3 added
19 November 2023
Balloon page memorials up dated
16 November 2023
It just had to happen.
Chapter 7 had the wrong RH page header in Book 3. It has been corrected for all future purchases. It does not affect the content.
20 October 2023 For those who have not experienced the town a good way is to take a walk to see what Midhurst is like today. See You Tube Steve's Relaxing Walks. Midhurst Town Walk, pt 1 25 min. pt 2 17min, You walk around the town - but it could do with a guiding sound track.
Book 3 is now selling in Midhurst. Some want to start with Book 1`. Copies of all books will be available at the Talks nights of The Midhurst Society. For full details of purchasing see the Access To Books tab on this website.
Book 4 is cracking on .
21 September 2023
The ebook version of Book 3 is now available. See Access to Books for sources and price guidance.
4 September 2023
First printed book 3 received. Matching and as beatiful as those before. Released for sale.
E-book version ordered and will take 1-2 weeks to appear. General sales publicity soon to got out.
See Access to Books tab for pricing information. Sorry, but the price now had to include new extras such country service tax, a distributor's fee, and a printers charge increase. Also the distributors want a higher markup!
The tab explains ways to get books that are at the best price.
Book 4 started!
1 August 2023
Hooray! At long last the files for Book 3 are uploaded and the e-proof is sound. It has been accepted. But I am still trying, so hard, to order a single book to make sure it is right ready to sell. It has the release date of 30 August 2023 so that problem should be overcome by then.
I am now sorting out a way to make them available in Midhurst at the lowest price for local pickup. Happy reading. The book details have been added to the Publications tab, as have the latest on Access to Books. You csould be able to order on-line from then. The e-book version will follow sa week later.
3 April 2023
Book 3 has gone into converting its now large Scrivener file into Word chapter final files. That needs picture insertion and laying out of pages. It will take some weeks to get it ready for printing.
The Balloon memorial project has changed direction. See its own page.
9 February 2023
Still at it, and now working on the last Chapter 12. Hope to very soon start production to convert Scrivener files into Word for insertion of pics and setting up final shape of pages.
Sorry, but I had to increase prices a bit for online suppy. I was beginning to pay you to take them. See the page on supply for better prices by local or on-line direct buying.
19 December 2022
I wish you a Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year.
Progress on Book 3 is good. Chapter 10 (of 12 or so) is ready for production. It covers the bombings of 1942 and 1943. It looks like Book 3 could be published by April 2023 but that is if there are no more urgent issues in my life that cannot be left.
The balloon memorial is progressing wiith the final detail of the memorial getting close now. - just a case of finding a way to make it within budget!
24 June 2022
A page for a new book on barrage balloons has been added here. That covers the development of a memorial at Kidbrooke, SE London, commemorating the No 1 Balloon Centre of RAF Balloon Command in WW2.
The MM book 3 is back in work using the great Scrivener tool.
Can't wait to get onto it and the two evacuee chapters.
14 January 2022
Hello. I am still at it!
At last, I am able to resume concentrated writing of Book 3.. It took a long time to reset my life to allow this, following moving home and coping with the Covid pandemic - that smothers everything we do in some way.
Book 3 covers the first half of the war period and it now includes my own experiences in Midhurst as the story line thread. My chances of getting to visit Midhurst again are slim for a while yet.
1 May 2021
What a long gap! The Covid pandemic has impacted us all. We have also been moving home. All this has made it impossible to progress the project. With my new study area in place and the reference book collection again available, I soon will to get back onto Book 3.
Book 2 is still available by on-line purchase, or direct from the Midhurst Society.
16 October 2020
Book 2 now ordered for reference viewing at Midhurst, Petworth, and Worthing libraries.
A long review and comments on Book 2 are now up on a new Reviews tab,
7 October 2020
A competitive price, online service from the publisher, is now available for UK users with PayPal or Bank Transfer payment- go to the Local Purchases under the Access to Books tab.
Also to the rest of the world by PayPal payment.
17 September 2020
The e-book version of Book 2 is now available. I am again pleased with the final outcome. For where to get print and e-book versions - go to the access of books tab.
26 August 2020
Here it is at last - Book 2 is published. I jinxed my own project by telling you last year that all the proofs were about to be started and that publication was soon. Well! The file was set for the wrong size page so that needed a complete redo of the layout and then a new index. In the end the files were proofed, and proofed, and I learned how to properly prepare them for print production. The first upload to the POD printer showed the cover was not quite right. So, after that upload correction, it was published on-line in mid-August 2020. It is styled to match Book 1.
It is now available online for the Print version. The e-book version is being generated and will be published by Mid-September.
27 March 2020
The Memoirs project has had some necessary delays. But it is not abandoned by any means! I'm itching to get back on it.
First there were serious issues in Australia with heat waves and local bush fires, very close to Adelaide that impacted in us all in one or another. Then in November we decided to sell the family home and downsize. That needed major redecoration (by yours truly) to ready it for the market. Just as some serious buyers came forth the dreaded Covid-19 restrictions clamped it all down with their finances becoming so uncertain.
This worked out OK in some ways; not moving house allowed me to lay out and edit the Special 60th year issue of The Midhurst Magazine for its April 2020 release.
Good news. Proof reading of Book 2 has recommenced with the view of publication within a few months. Then I will be able to get back onto Book 3. But who knows when the world will get back to stability?
16 October 2019
Rebuilt updated website published
14 October 2019
The outline of the new website is ready in Scrivener, a great authoring tool. All that has to be done now is to cut, paste and style it into the Godaddy site builder
Book 2 is now being proofread - at last!!
9 October 2019
The original website was deleted and is being rebuilt today. This will take a week or two.
,
ARD A Barrage Balloon book is on the way.