16 SATURDAY, NOVEMBER 2, 2013 Eastern Daily Press

Like us on Facebook NEWS local www.facebook.com/edp Literary names under spotlight at cathedral

Some of the county’s literary for his novel Captain Corelli’s of monsters and scary people. I names have been cast into the Mandolin, who read from his was talking about my historical spotlight at the Hostry Festival’s debut poetry collection novel set in the 17th century. Authors in Profile Imagining Alexandria. “There was lots of varied event. Norwich-based civil servant discussion. It was an afternoon Presented in association with and magistrate Hilton Pashley of great variety with a very Jarrold, the celebration of the talked about his debut chil- appreciative audience.” written word yesterday at dren’s novel Gabriel’s Clock, Keiron Pim, a Norwich-based Norwich Cathedral’s Hostry saw while Andrew Cowan, the author and journalist, said: “It four locally-based authors director of the UEA’s creative was a pleasure to speak with all interviewed by writer Keiron writing programme, spoke four of these writers while Pim about their work. about his book Worthless Men. hosting the Norfolk Authors in Among the writers taking Afterwards, Ms Tremain said: Profile event. part was best-selling novelist “I think we had a very good “It displayed the range of and chancellor of the UEA, Rose afternoon with a very varied literary talent at work in the Tremain, who said it was great programme because we are all county, from some of the most to have an event like this so different. popular British novelists of the bringing together some of the “We have all got books about last 20 years through to authors living in a such a to be published or recently emerging talent. “writer-rich region.” published, and there was a great “As one of the organisers of Ms Tremain spoke about her diversity. the EDP-Jarrold East Anglian novel Merivel – A Man Of His “Andrew Cowan was talking Book Awards I never fail to be Time in front of the 100-strong about his book, Worthless Men, amazed by the number of audience. set in the first world war, Louis writers that call this region She was joined by Louis de de Bernières was reading home. ■ Keiron Pim, left, with Louis de Bernières at the event. Bernières, winner of the poetry, and Hilton Pashley was “This afternoon proved that Picture: SIMON FINLAY Commonwealth Writers’ Prize talking about his teen novel full once again.”

I was very junior in Mrs Baroness on her Thatcher’s government and she was never harsh with me personally. life as potential Baroness Gillian Shephard choice for Tory’s next Iron Lady

She polarised opinions like no other Adam Lazzari British prime minister and had a [email protected] ferocious reputation for dressing down members of her cabinet, but a threatened teachers’ strike. what was it actually like to work for She was nicknamed Iron Lady ? Mark II and talked up as the woman Gillian Shephard, the former who could replace Baroness Thatcher Conservative cabinet member and as leader of the Conservative Party. South West Norfolk MP, who was Baroness Thatcher, however, was once billed as Baroness Thatcher’s reported to have said of this sugges- successor, gave an intriguing insight tion: “Are we really that desperate?” into that question during the opening Baroness Shephard, who now lives of the Burnham Market Book in Swaffham, said: “I took no offence Festival yesterday. to that at all and if I had been in her Her overall portrait of the Iron position I would have thought exactly Lady was affectionate but Baroness the same thing. Shephard admitted Baroness “I had only been in parliament for Thatcher could be very harsh. five minutes. She said: “People often said she “I went into politics at 47 and I was great to work for and hell to work wouldn’t have had the body of knowl- with. edge or the support that was needed. “I don’t think all of her colleagues “I had other interests outside poli- would agree she was hell to work tics, so I don’t think I would have had with but she could be very tough on the complete and utter focus that was cabinet ministers, especially if they required. ■ didn’t know all of their facts. Baroness Shephard, who under Baroness Gillian Shephard, left, with Whitehouse Bookshop owner and festival organiser Kate Bennett at the Burnham “There was once case where a , became the first woman Market Book Festival. Picture: MATTHEW USHER minister was escorted to the door in minister at the Treasury and went on tears after she had given him a dress- to hold high cabinet posts including details. tions the press would ask.” Baroness Shephard was promoting ing down. employment, agriculture and educa- “And she never liked the idea of She added: “Mrs Thatcher had this her book The Real Iron Lady: “I was very junior in Mrs tion, spoke at length of her admira- wasting a minute in small talk. mixture of authority and femininity Working with Margaret Thatcher, Thatcher’s government and she was tion of Baroness Thatcher. “When she went to Ireland with that fascinated people. which is now available. never harsh with me personally. She said: “She was a great strate- Robert Armstrong to sign the Anglo- “Her appearance was important to The Burnham Market Book “She was in fact very supportive of gist and had an exceptional eye for Irish Agreement, they arrived half her, not just because of her job. Festival, being held at The Hoste, me as a junior minister and as a detail and having both of those an hour early. “She often took her rollers around continues throughout the weekend. woman MP.” things together is very rare. “It was a real time for celebration with her and sometimes offered them In the mid-1990s Baroness Ministers working for her were often but she insisted that they spent that to other people if she thought they ■ For more information, visit www. Shephard gained praise for defusing tripped up for not knowing all of the time rehearsing answers to the ques- looked untidy.” burnhambookfestival.co.uk