Open Days - Raising an Awareness of Undershaw

The Open Days at Andrews Lawnmower's and Hindhead Hot Tubs were supported moderately well, Saturday being the better day, Sunday being a dismal cold, damp and wet day. However, I was supported by people that mattered. It was a great pleasure and honour to meet, for the second time, the new Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport, Jeremy Hunt MP who offered his support to the campaign.

My question to Jeremy was plain and simple - please upgrade Undershaw to a Grade II* or Grade I, a move that he fully supports.

A lovely family from America slowed their car down and showed off their Save Undershaw t-shirts. They stopped for an interesting chat and were a possible link to Guy Ritchie. Several photographs were taken with Sherlock Holmes. (I would like to ask the family if I could possibly have a copy of that photograph for the blog). Rupert Sheard very kindly played the role of Sherlock Holmes as he did in the 'Hound of the Baskervilles at the Electric Theatre in Guildford. Rupert's father the late Michael Sheard played alongside Peter Egan in the 'Dark Side of the Sun' back in 1983.

The fabulous Austen car was provided by a lovely gentleman from the area which certainly caught the eye of passers by.

The lawnmower that Andrews had donated to the cause was won by Roger Meadows from Bath and other prizes of fabulous books donated and signed by their authors also found good homes. A small amount was made on the raffle and will go towards printing of cards and stickers etc.

Posthumous BAFTA for Jeremy Brett

May I ask all my followers and visitors to this blog to visit the following website http://www.bafta4jb.com/ and be part of several hundred people that have put their name to the petition in support of this worthwhile cause. The Undershaw Preservation Trust supports the efforts that are being made to ensure that the late Jeremy Brett is honoured with the award that he so rightly deserves.

Web Cam link to the Planning Meeting on 9th June

You will all know by now that the planning meeting due for 12th May has been put back until Wednesday 9th June. The meeting is scheduled to take place at 5.30 pm A link that may enable you to watch the entire meeting as it unfolds on web cam is: http://www.waverley.gov.uk/site/scripts/documents_info.php?documentID=944 The gap in between 'documents' and 'info' in the link address is _ (underscore).

Alistair Duncan - Buy his books and You will be Supporting Undershaw

For several months I have been in communication with Alistair Duncan who, in the early days, dedicated some of his time to the campaign to save Undershaw. Alistair has written several books on the subject of Sherlock Holmes and Arthur Conan Doyle and has kindly donated a set of three, all signed, to be prizes on the open days of 15th and 16th May at Andrews of Hindhead opposite Undershaw for the grand raffle.

Alistair has today written to me to express his concern about the building and his determination to help the campaign and the Undershaw Preservation Trust. He has persuaded his publisher to set up a special code for people to buy his books and this can be accessed through the following link: http://www.mxpublishing.co.uk/engine/shop/page/Partners/Save+Undershaw+Campaign If at the checkout, you enter the code 'undershaw' a donation of £1.50 for each book sold will go towards the campaign.

It is written that Alistair is a respected Holmes historian and writer of the acclaimed 'Eliminate the Impossible' which has set the standard for recent examinations of Arthur Conan Doyle's works. A fascinating and enjoyable work that has garnered praise from around the Sherlockian world. The Sherlock Holmes Society of London commented in their review of ETI - 'Alistair Duncan knows his Holmes'. His second book - 'Close to Holmes' - a look at the connections between historical London, Sherlock Holmes and Sir Arthur Conan Doyle has proved a hit with Holmes and ACD fans as well as those interested in Victorian London.

His third book 'The Norwood Author' is a biography of Arthur Conan Doyle, covering the few years he spent living in Norwood. During this time he wrote several Sherlock Holmes stories including the notorious one where he kills off his hero.

I would like to thank Alistair for his generosity and dedication to the campaign and for his donations of books and funds amongst other help he has had a hand in.

By buying Alistair's books not only would you be buying a worthwhile read, you will be supporting the Undershaw project and by purchasing raffle tickets from myself or Andrews you will have the opportunity of winning all three books as a prize. Please support us in whatever way you can.

Of course we are now waiting for someone to publish a book on Conan Doyle's time at Undershaw which I could then base my TV documentary on! Who knows! BBC News, Meridian Tonight, The One Show ...........................TV documentary!

Save Undershaw Video

Our Save Undershaw video can now be viewed at the following link http://vimeo.com/11360128 The video shows the shameful state that Undershaw has been allowed to become because of its neglect and abandonment by our local council and its owners. John Gibson is also shown in this video highlighting his concerns.

It would help the Trust and Paul Osborne who very kindly put the video together for us, if you would kindly spend several minutes compiling a few words of comment on this subject or indeed on the video.

Breaking News - Planning Meeting

The planning meeting that was scheduled for the 12th May has now been put back until 9th June or even later. We have been given no reasons for this and hope the only reason could be that Waverley Borough Council have doubts as to approve this planning application! I will keep you all updated.