History
2000 - 2009
2000
Sharon Searle took over as chairperson.
Speakers included - Chris McCooey, travel writer, Sandy Hernu who wrote a biography of Desmond Llewellyn, (‘Q’ in a number of James Bond Films), and publisher Steve Benz, who gave members an insight into the world of commercial publishing.
Ann Botha saw the publication of her second book, The Cuckmere – A Sussex River.
Ella Harris won the annual short story competition.
A club Handbook was distributed to all full members, which contained details about meetings, workshop groups, competitions and a calendar of events.
Erica Richardson was the winner of the Anderida Accolade.
In the Year Book (priced £2.00) she told members that Tamara McKinley’s Matilda’s Last Waltz had now been sold to ten countries, with large print and audio tapes on the way.
2001
In March 2001 at the Annual General Meeting, Chairperson, Sharon Searle.
Jack Gilderson was the winner of the Anderida Accolade.
Eighteen scribes contributed to the 2001/2002 Anderida Year Book.
Zoe Hanneker won first prize in Anderida’s annual short story competition, with The Delivery.
Ella Harris won a short story competition in Writers News, had an article accepted by Sussex Life magazine and was short listed in several poetry competitions. Publisher Hodder, asked to see the complete manuscript of her children’s book.
Tamara McKinley sold her novel Matilda’s Last Waltz to Bulgaria, Russia, Slovenia and Yugoslavia. Then, on a roll, 55,000 copies went to Germany, and the book was taken up by New Zealand, Canada, Holland and Scandinavia.
In November Chairperson Sharon Searle married publisher Steve Benz in Vermont, USA.
Ann Botha, author of The Crumbles Story and The Cuckmere - A Sussex River and writer Ella Harris congratulate Tamara McKinley on the outstanding success of Matilda’s Last Waltz.
2002
At the AGM, the Anderida Accolade was awarded to John Bennett.
Ella Harris took over as chairperson.
Members were each sent a questionnaire so the answers would give the committee an idea of attendances, preferences, and interests.
Sharon Searle gave an entertaining talk on her writing career at the June meeting, ending with the advice: “Don’t get it right, get it written.”
2003
At the AGM, John Bennett was elected as chair.
Membership dwindled over the past year and little interest had been shown in the Yearbook or Writing Competition.
Liz Baker was awarded the Anderida Accolade.
The York House Hotel was designated the venue for future meetings. The September meeting was opened up to the residents. The Sharpshooters, specialists in the American Civil War, provided an entertaining evening with stories of the civil war, the clothing of that period and a demonstration of handguns and rifles.
In October, Tamara McKinley spoke about the detailed research she carried out for her novels.
2004
The year started quietly with attendances down for all meetings. As a result, the April main meeting was held as an ‘Open House’ to attract new members. Unfortunately, there were no new faces and only seven members were present.
Attendance improved in May for Crime Short Story Competition. Entries were read by Jo Sands.
Attendances were poor during the summer but picked up in October for a discussion of the Da Vinci Code by Dan Brown.
Liz Wright continued with her humorous, slightly fictionalised autobiography, and also won the article writing section of the Christchurch Writers Competition with It’s a Dog’s Life.
Tamara McKinley’s Summer Lightning had been in the German Bestseller List for over 10 weeks and Matilda’s Last Waltz had sold over a million copies worldwide.
2005
At the March AGM, chairman John Bennett expressed concern about the cost of producing the Yearbook, and it was decided to stop producing it.
The Anderida Accolade was awarded to Roger Hardman.
The meeting discussed how to boost membership. An article about Anderida Writers would be submitted to writing magazines. A proper website was suggested.
Future speakers were discussed as related expenses seemed to be excessive for a small group.
2006
At the AGM, Harry Pope took over as chairman.
The winner of the 2006 short story competition was John Bennett.
The Anderida Accolade was awarded to John Connor for his work on the Newsletter.
Ann Botha’s book The Crumbles Story – A Tale of Eastbourne’s Colourful Heritage was republished and on prominent display at Ottakers Bookshop in the Arndale Centre.
2007
With a dwindling membership, chairman Harry Pope called an Extraordinary General Meeting in April. The Constitution was amended to dispense with the annual subscription, replacing it with a voluntary donation of £1 by those attending meetings.
Future main meetings included the following subjects:
Children and Christian Writing
Marketing your work
Agents, do we need them?
Short stories
Poetry competition
Travel writing
Novel writing
crime writing
Non-fiction writing, Biographies and autobiographies
Humorous writing, Funnies
Fifty-word competition
Writers Workshop
Chairman’s Evening.
2008
At the AGM, Peter Sampson became chairman.
In April 88-year-old Harry Bankhead retired from Anderida. He was made an honorary lifetime member in appreciation for all his support over the years.
Subscriptions were re-instated, with guests paying per meeting.
At the 1,000 word short story competition, actor Jeffrey Holland read the 11 entries, with Harry Pope winning first prize.
In September, raconteur Derek Legg gave a colourful talk, setting out 10 points of storytelling.
Harry Pope being congratulated by actor Jeffrey Holland
on winning first prize in the annual writing competition
with the theme Terminal Flight.
2009
At the AGM, Peter Sampson continued as chairman.
The re-issued Year book was ready for distribution in April.
It was proposed to send out the newsletter to members by email.
Actor and writer Dave Berry, from TV’s The Fenn Street Gang and Please Sir, with four published books to his name, offered to come and talk to the group.
At the short story competition in July, 60 people attended to hear actors, Jeffrey Holland and Judy Buxton read the entries. It was proposed that Jeffrey Holland be asked to become Anderida’s Patron.
A Challenge was put to other writing groups in Eastbourne to provide 750-word pieces on the theme of Concrete Evidence. At the September meeting 19 entries were read out by four members of the Eastbourne Speakers Club, Gordon and Mary Piggot, Giles Robinson and Sue Pellow.
After winning joint first prize in a writing competition, Harry Pope was commissioned to write a 40,000 word romantic novel that had to be produced in a five-week time frame for St. Valentine’s Day.
Tony and Heather Flood became Anderida members.
Anderida Writers members surround Gordon and Mary Piggott, Giles Robinson and Sue Pellow (seated) from the
Eastbourne Speakers Club (part of Toastmasters International)
who read the nineteen entries on the theme of Concrete Evidence, submitted for the inter-club writing competition held at the Langham Hotel, Eastbourne.