BRAND NEW BOOK AND BRINSLEY SPRING FAIR

On Saturday afternoon, 21st March 2015, members of Brinsley St James church are planning a Special Spring Fair, the first of its kind in the newly refurbished building.

A variety of stalls containing cakes, scarves, tombola  prizes, gifts and Easter Treats together with hot refreshments will be available in the sumptuous new surroundings throughout the afternoon. 

The top prize in the Raffle is a large wicker hamper groaning with goodies Fortnum & Mason style!

In order to celebrate the occasion, local author Ztan Zmith is launching a brand new book – his 16th with a Brinsley Theme.  

The new book, priced at just £2.00, is called “Brinsley Briefs,” and includes tales of the time when the film crew for “Sons & Lovers” hit the village.   It also looks into local Troubles with the Law; Broad Lane & Plain Spot characters; the fate of the man who was a member of Brinsley’s Comic Band and tells the story of the delightful Annie Fletcher etc.

The book will be available at the Fair and afterwards at Brinsley and Underwood Post Offices or from Ztan by telephone - 01773 783009 or by e-mail stan@powercomp.co.uk   A pdf version will be available for e-mailing to any part of the world.

BRAND NEW BOOK "A CHARMED LIFE" LAUNCHED IN NOVEMBER 2014

On Saturday 22d November 2014 my new book "A Charmed Life" is being launched in the afternoon at a Winter Fayre being held in Underwood Miners' Welfare.

It is a fantastic story and a great read at just 2.00 per copy + 70p UK p&p.    All enquiries to me Stan Smith using e-mail stan@powercomp.co.uk

Eugene di Villa

A brand new book entitled "Eugene Di Villa", is being launched this coming Saturday, June 28th, at Underwood St Michael's Garden Party in the churchyard between 2pm and 5pm.
The proceeds of this book, which cost £2.00, will be donated to the Eugene Di Villa Memorial Fund. Copies available by e-mail : stan@powercomp.co.uk.

EUGENE DI VILLA – AN ENIGMA?
Eugene was born in London in 1931 - but under a different name. In 1959 he legally changed this, by Deed Poll, and from then onwards became Eugene Di Villa.
Through his grandmother he claimed connections with a European titled family and shared sketchy details of his life with his many friends.
Eugene died in December 2010 and was buried in St Michael’s Churchyard having expressed a fondness for Underwood during his life time. Today, more than three years later, his grave is grassed over and marked with a plain wooden cross bearing a handwritten inscription.
A group of friends, distressed by the sadness of this, have got together to try and raise funds for a proper memorial stone to mark the life of a local man who gave so much to Underwood and the surrounding area. See More

The latest Basford Bystander is now out in the shops. I enjoyed putting this one together.   Copies obtainable from me.

For details e-mail me at stan@basfordbystander.org.uk   

Hard copies available - also pdf format for e-mailing Inland or World wide.

Happy new year to fellow bloggers

I am delighted to announce that my website http://www.ztanzmith.co.uk has now been updated with my latest 2013 books.

 These books, all at £2.00 (sterling) each, with pdf versions available for e-mail, include:-

 

 

“Brinsley – Top to Bottom” -  chapel folk and others

 

“Lively Folk” of Underwood Bagthorpe & Westwood

“Bystander Cream” – containing early articles on Basford from the Basford Bystander

“Bulwell Bystander”- containing early articles on Bulwell from the Basford Bystander

“The Green” – Part one of the reissue of the Hyson Green book which has been out of print for a few years.

 

 

Photo shows my wife Christine and I on our book stall at a recent event

 

I am now busy putting together the next book – this time it will be Brinsley book number 15!

 

BYSTANDER BULWELL - a brand new publication.

 

A brand new compilation from past articles about Bulwell, Nottingham, appearing in the Basford Bystander over the last twenty five years or so is now available.        For the contents, price and contact details -  see box below.

The articles, excellent in themselves, have not seen light of day for many, many years and are so good that, as editor of the Basford Bystander, I decided to make them more accessible and reissue them in this  new handy A5 format entitled BYSTANDER BULWELL.

Bystander Bulwell is a companion volume to the book Bystander Cream published recently.

BYSTANDER BULWELL by Ztan Zmith The editor’s compilation of articles published in back issues of the Basford Bystander   Articles Include :-
Living near Northern Bridge Oakleigh Lodge Sankey’s of Bulwell Jimmy Rayner’s Portable Theatre Bulwell’s Well The Newstead Abbey Barber to the War Office King Billy Dad and footballer Bertie Mee The Workhouse	The Workhouse’s Dr Tancred Bulwell’s Blacksmith Bulwell Common Plane Crash Bulwell Vicar Shooting Albert Street Mr Punch - Rag & Bone man Tragic William Haslam Fanny’s Big Bulwell Wedding Commercial Road Victorian Bulwell
If you would like a copy of this unique book by UK mail then please send a cheque payable to “Basford Bystander”   for £2.70 per book (inclusive UK postage)  to 44 Cherry Tree Close, Brinsley, Nottingham NG16 5BA   ============================================================================================================================ A pdf copy can be e-mailed inland or world wide at a cost of £2.00 (sterling) per copy via  e-mail at - stan@basfordbystander.org.uk    (PayPal accepted)

The recent book launch of "Brinsley - Top to Bottom" resulted in a virtual sell-out on the day itself and a reprint had to be organised quickly to meet demand.   

The book has been very well received - which is pleasing to say it is Brinsley book number 13.    

The title seems to have intrigued quite a few readers.  However the title is particularly relevent to the book and all becomes clear when viewing the contents of the book.

Prospective readers may be interested to learn that there is a pdf version of the book available and this can be e-mailed to any part of the UK and most parts of the world.     The cost is £2.00 sterling and payment by PayPal (using the address stan@basfordbystander.org.uk) is perfectly acceptable.

All net proceeds of the book are donated to Brinsley Parish Church.

http://www.ztanzmith.co.uk and http://www.basfordbystander.org.uk

http://www.newwritersuk.co.uk/ztanzmith.html

http://twitter.com/@ZtanZmith