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Post by benjiesmum on Dec 8, 2008 7:52:44 GMT 1
Well fancy that! ;D We had family friends who live in Flinders at one time. Well, Selwyn passed away a couple of years ago, but his wife Miriam and some of the family are probably still there - although I think they are in Melbourne now. Wonder if you ever came across them? Probably not!! Selwyn was a poet and had been my father's friend since early childhood. He was a bit of a wanderer - starting life in the NW of England and finally ending up in Flinders via Oxford, Orkney, New Zealand, China, Tasmania and other places!! He was a really larger than life man. His real name was Selwyn Hughes but he wrote as Selwyn Pritchard. www.poetselwynpritchard.com/My father never really liked his poems - he always teased Selwyn saying they didn't rhyme so couldn't be poems! Selwyn's best best friend was Bill Roache (Ken Barlow) of Coronation Street fame - was best man at his wedding.
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Post by maree on Dec 8, 2008 11:37:46 GMT 1
This strip of land that you refer to, Maree, I think I may have seen a photo of it......is this Mavis Grind? It looks like the perfect location to build a stone wall, to seperate the republic of Northmavine from the rest of Shetland! You've done you're homework Adam! Yes, the strip of land is Mavis Grind. Funny that you should mention a wall.......the remains of a wall exist that seperated the Republic of Northmavine from the parish of Delting!! I'm sure I have a photo somewhere, but I can't find it in my "filing system"!!
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skarp
New Magnie
Posts: 14
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Post by skarp on Dec 11, 2008 3:11:56 GMT 1
Hi Benjiesmum. Incredible, just incredible! It's a small world, is it not?
I've heard of Selwyn Pritchard, though I haven't read any of his poems. I'm not sure that I'd want to if they don't rhyme. Hi hi.
There is an older lady on Flinders Island, Agatha, who talks of her childhood being spent in Orkney, India, China, lots of places. I can't remember Agatha's last name though. I'll have a chat to her, if anyone knows of Selwyn, it will be her.
I thought of you just recently as there was a documentary on the ABC about Snowdonia. It looks like a beautiful place, the mountain ponies too. Last year I bought a horse collar from a lady in Wales, in Ceredigion, Aberystwyth. Fay was a bit of a gypsy I think. Where in Wales are you?
Take care, Adam.
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Post by benjiesmum on Dec 11, 2008 6:25:24 GMT 1
I am sure she will know him! He was quite the celeb! Wonderful man extremely intelligent and a great practical joker. He and my father were the terrible two when they were lads. They used to get up to all sorts of mischief.
His sons are Emrys Hughes and ****** can't think of the other one. then there was Kate Hughes - she lectures at Victoria Uni (?) I think.
They lost their eldest son Hadyn when he was about 11 in a very tragic accident in Macclesfield - he stepped out in front of a car and never regained consciousness. As a child I can all too clearly remember the pain and the anguish they both suffered as they hoped for him to recover. So sad.....
They eventually went to Oz because the pain was so great.
Some of his poems are about this and they are very very sad. I have listened to some of them on his website and even now always shed a tear or two.
Oh yes, Snowdonia is a fabulous part of Wales. I am just to the east of it in Flintshire.
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Post by georgeg on Mar 5, 2009 10:59:18 GMT 1
Hi. Leeg. Wellcome to the forum.. perhaps you would like to tell us about yourself, and the kind of things you like doing.. Geordie..
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