Pamela was drawn to England’s West Country to complete a research degree at Exeter University. It was only afterwards that she discovered a family tree firmly rooted in Devon soil. These days she has happily crossed the Tamar and embraced her Cornish home in Looe.
Pamela spent several years as founder and director of The Whodunnit Company, plotting murder mystery events for public and corporate audiences in the U.K. and the U.S.A. The company was also featured on radio and TV in the UK. Prior to this, she worked with Barnardos and two Social Services Departments, professional experience that provides a strong foundation for Shadow Child. Seeds of Doubt followed, a mystery thriller based on true events behind the Lynmouth floods in 1952, later serialised for Radio Devon.
In 2016 she was delighted to be awarded the Devon History Society W.G. Hoskins prize for The Power of Three, a meticulously researched account of the life and ground-breaking work of Devon inventor Thomas Fowler. In Reason or Rebellion? Pamela combines in-depth research, first hand accounts and fictionalised sequences to bring the previously untold story of women’s fight for the vote in Devon vividly to life. Her research-led storytelling also relates the previously untold story of Mary Kelynack in Cornwall to the Crystal Palace. This elderly Newlyn fishwife made the extraordinary journey from Cornwall to London to view the Great Exhibition of 1851 - on foot. And this was only the beginning of her adventures.
Pamela has given numerous presentations on her books. To make a booking for your group please contact her via the button below.
From Cornwall to the Crystal Palace: The Extraordinary Journey of Mary Kelynack
In August 1851 a curiously dressed, elderly woman was seen trudging along Southampton High Street. Passers by couldn’t fail to notice her. She wore a huge beaver bonnet and carried a corracle-like basket on her back. On being spoken to she said she was a Cornish fisherwoman, in her 84th year, and was walking to London from the Land’s End to see the Great Exhibition. Mary Kelynack spent her entire life in the small community of Newlyn in the far west of Cornwall. Yet in 1851 she was so inspired by the wonders of the Great Exhibition in London that she resolved to go, one way or another. Travelling by steamer, coach or train was beyond her means but there was one thing she could do - walk.
Before long she had become quite a celebrity - taking tea with the Lord Mayor, being interviewed by the Illustrated London News, modelled by a famous sculptor, having a polka named after her… and even greeting the Queen.
This costumed, multi media presentation delves into the true story of Mary Kelynack’s life and remarkable pedestrian feat.
Interesting, informative and engaging speaker. Brilliant presentation. Speaker was an excellent storyteller. Great presentation. Really good delivery, excellent research! Interesting and informative, well studied. Brought history to life. Morrab Library, Penzance
I have to say, and those I spoke to afterwards agreed, what an excellent talk. So well illustrated and you put it over so well. It was so interesting and entertaining. Plympton Civic Society
Reason or Rebellion? The Suffrage Story in the South West
On August 4th 1913, a car was spotted speeding away from a Devon mansion late at night. Moments later the alarm was raised as flames lit up the sky. The papers were filled with speculation that suffragettes were to blame. Truth or fiction? This question opened a door to the fascinating story of the fight for the vote in the south west - not a tale of a sleepy rural backwater but of women prepared to protest at political meetings, join mass rallies in London and suffer the agony of forced feeding in Holloway. All this ... and the biggest sleepover the region has ever known!
This costumed, multimedia presentation, tailored to focus on your location in Cornwall or Devon, includes original footage and numerous illustrations from the time, first hand suffragette accounts and readings from ‘Reason or Rebellion?’
Thank you for your presentation which attracted a sell out audience of 100 festival fans. Feedback following your event has been outstanding: the quality of your presentation materials, the delivery style and pace have all been acknowledged. Following Michael Palin’s event was never going to be easy but I am delighted to say that we need not have worried! A very entertaining and informative event. Appledore Book Festival.
The Power of 3: The Story of Thomas Fowler
Winner of the Devon History Society W.G. Hoskins Prize
‘Wooden Computer Invented in North Devon.' A startling headline for a local paper. It continued, ‘It is fascinating … to know that one of the original pioneers of the computer was a self taught bookseller and printer … who was born over 200 years ago. His name was Thomas Fowler.’ Thomas Fowler was a mathematician and engineer who invented a unique calculating machine that anticipated the computer age by more than a century. So why are so few people aware of this humble, self-taught genius from a small market town in Devon? Tragically, bad fortune and prejudice meant his ground-breaking work lapsed into obscurity. Until now.
This multi media presentation includes my account of Fowler’s life and work, video, illustrations and readings from original documents of the time.
Thank you for the excellent talk you gave to Otter Vale Probus club, our members were amazed to learn about Thomas Fowler. (Zoom talk)
‘Computers might have changed history and our world almost a century sooner had the ideas of Fowler been understood and adopted by Babbage.’ Professor, Ralph Merkle, Senior Research Fellow at the Institute for Molecular Manufacturing, California.
The Lynmouth Floods - Act of God or Act of Man?
In the summer of 1952 disaster struck the small fishing village of Lynmouth on the North Devon coast. During one August night flash floods destroyed scores of homes and claimed 34 lives. But many recall the suspicions circulating of Government interference with the weather. Fact or fiction? Given top secret documents were now available from that time it was a question I had to answer. This talk uncovers the incredible true story that creates the backdrop for my novel Seeds of Doubt. I include information from those secret documents, book readings and anecdotes about the research and writing process in the multi-media presentation.
I just wanted to thank you once again for your excellent talk in Thursday. I had so many people come up to me afterwards telling me how superb it was and how they enjoyed it. Many comments like "brilliant talk" and "wow, that was the best talk for a long time". Bude U3A
Writing Fiction from Fact
History holds a wealth of stories waiting for an author to bring them to life. How do we go about finding them? There are four irresistible starting points: the intriguing rumour, newspaper snippets that raise more questions than they answer, curiosity about how national stories are played out locally and the facts of our own lives.
The intriguing rumour was the starting point for my book Seeds of Doubt. Did experiments with the weather play a part in the devastating Lynmouth floods of 1952? The newspaper snippet ‘Wooden Computer Invented in North Devon’ set me on the trail of Thomas Fowler, potentially one of the most significant inventors of the 19th century. Curiosity over how national events play out locally led to Reason or Rebellion? the story of the amazing West Country women who put their lives on the line in their fight for the vote. A chance find of a postcard of an 84 year old woman who walked to London to see the Queen set me on the trail of Mary Kelynack. And I found the inspiration for Shadow Child both in my career as a social worker, working with children in care, and my life as Director of The Whodunnit Company, offering murder mystery events.
This talk illustrates how creating suspense, mystery, intriguing characters, heightened emotions and jeopardy are the best building blocks for an author. But with writing fiction from fact, these are based on real lives, real events, real jeopardy.
Pamela spent several years as founder and director of The Whodunnit Company, plotting murder mystery events for public and corporate audiences in the U.K. and the U.S.A. The company was also featured on radio and TV in the UK. Prior to this, she worked with Barnardos and two Social Services Departments, professional experience that provides a strong foundation for Shadow Child. Seeds of Doubt followed, a mystery thriller based on true events behind the Lynmouth floods in 1952, later serialised for Radio Devon.
In 2016 she was delighted to be awarded the Devon History Society W.G. Hoskins prize for The Power of Three, a meticulously researched account of the life and ground-breaking work of Devon inventor Thomas Fowler. In Reason or Rebellion? Pamela combines in-depth research, first hand accounts and fictionalised sequences to bring the previously untold story of women’s fight for the vote in Devon vividly to life. Her research-led storytelling also relates the previously untold story of Mary Kelynack in Cornwall to the Crystal Palace. This elderly Newlyn fishwife made the extraordinary journey from Cornwall to London to view the Great Exhibition of 1851 - on foot. And this was only the beginning of her adventures.
Pamela has given numerous presentations on her books. To make a booking for your group please contact her via the button below.
From Cornwall to the Crystal Palace: The Extraordinary Journey of Mary Kelynack
In August 1851 a curiously dressed, elderly woman was seen trudging along Southampton High Street. Passers by couldn’t fail to notice her. She wore a huge beaver bonnet and carried a corracle-like basket on her back. On being spoken to she said she was a Cornish fisherwoman, in her 84th year, and was walking to London from the Land’s End to see the Great Exhibition. Mary Kelynack spent her entire life in the small community of Newlyn in the far west of Cornwall. Yet in 1851 she was so inspired by the wonders of the Great Exhibition in London that she resolved to go, one way or another. Travelling by steamer, coach or train was beyond her means but there was one thing she could do - walk.
Before long she had become quite a celebrity - taking tea with the Lord Mayor, being interviewed by the Illustrated London News, modelled by a famous sculptor, having a polka named after her… and even greeting the Queen.
This costumed, multi media presentation delves into the true story of Mary Kelynack’s life and remarkable pedestrian feat.
Interesting, informative and engaging speaker. Brilliant presentation. Speaker was an excellent storyteller. Great presentation. Really good delivery, excellent research! Interesting and informative, well studied. Brought history to life. Morrab Library, Penzance
I have to say, and those I spoke to afterwards agreed, what an excellent talk. So well illustrated and you put it over so well. It was so interesting and entertaining. Plympton Civic Society
Reason or Rebellion? The Suffrage Story in the South West
On August 4th 1913, a car was spotted speeding away from a Devon mansion late at night. Moments later the alarm was raised as flames lit up the sky. The papers were filled with speculation that suffragettes were to blame. Truth or fiction? This question opened a door to the fascinating story of the fight for the vote in the south west - not a tale of a sleepy rural backwater but of women prepared to protest at political meetings, join mass rallies in London and suffer the agony of forced feeding in Holloway. All this ... and the biggest sleepover the region has ever known!
This costumed, multimedia presentation, tailored to focus on your location in Cornwall or Devon, includes original footage and numerous illustrations from the time, first hand suffragette accounts and readings from ‘Reason or Rebellion?’
Thank you for your presentation which attracted a sell out audience of 100 festival fans. Feedback following your event has been outstanding: the quality of your presentation materials, the delivery style and pace have all been acknowledged. Following Michael Palin’s event was never going to be easy but I am delighted to say that we need not have worried! A very entertaining and informative event. Appledore Book Festival.
The Power of 3: The Story of Thomas Fowler
Winner of the Devon History Society W.G. Hoskins Prize
‘Wooden Computer Invented in North Devon.' A startling headline for a local paper. It continued, ‘It is fascinating … to know that one of the original pioneers of the computer was a self taught bookseller and printer … who was born over 200 years ago. His name was Thomas Fowler.’ Thomas Fowler was a mathematician and engineer who invented a unique calculating machine that anticipated the computer age by more than a century. So why are so few people aware of this humble, self-taught genius from a small market town in Devon? Tragically, bad fortune and prejudice meant his ground-breaking work lapsed into obscurity. Until now.
This multi media presentation includes my account of Fowler’s life and work, video, illustrations and readings from original documents of the time.
Thank you for the excellent talk you gave to Otter Vale Probus club, our members were amazed to learn about Thomas Fowler. (Zoom talk)
‘Computers might have changed history and our world almost a century sooner had the ideas of Fowler been understood and adopted by Babbage.’ Professor, Ralph Merkle, Senior Research Fellow at the Institute for Molecular Manufacturing, California.
The Lynmouth Floods - Act of God or Act of Man?
In the summer of 1952 disaster struck the small fishing village of Lynmouth on the North Devon coast. During one August night flash floods destroyed scores of homes and claimed 34 lives. But many recall the suspicions circulating of Government interference with the weather. Fact or fiction? Given top secret documents were now available from that time it was a question I had to answer. This talk uncovers the incredible true story that creates the backdrop for my novel Seeds of Doubt. I include information from those secret documents, book readings and anecdotes about the research and writing process in the multi-media presentation.
I just wanted to thank you once again for your excellent talk in Thursday. I had so many people come up to me afterwards telling me how superb it was and how they enjoyed it. Many comments like "brilliant talk" and "wow, that was the best talk for a long time". Bude U3A
Writing Fiction from Fact
History holds a wealth of stories waiting for an author to bring them to life. How do we go about finding them? There are four irresistible starting points: the intriguing rumour, newspaper snippets that raise more questions than they answer, curiosity about how national stories are played out locally and the facts of our own lives.
The intriguing rumour was the starting point for my book Seeds of Doubt. Did experiments with the weather play a part in the devastating Lynmouth floods of 1952? The newspaper snippet ‘Wooden Computer Invented in North Devon’ set me on the trail of Thomas Fowler, potentially one of the most significant inventors of the 19th century. Curiosity over how national events play out locally led to Reason or Rebellion? the story of the amazing West Country women who put their lives on the line in their fight for the vote. A chance find of a postcard of an 84 year old woman who walked to London to see the Queen set me on the trail of Mary Kelynack. And I found the inspiration for Shadow Child both in my career as a social worker, working with children in care, and my life as Director of The Whodunnit Company, offering murder mystery events.
This talk illustrates how creating suspense, mystery, intriguing characters, heightened emotions and jeopardy are the best building blocks for an author. But with writing fiction from fact, these are based on real lives, real events, real jeopardy.
|
|
