WRITERS AT LUNCHTIME

The next Writers at Lunchtime meeting takes place on Wednesday 7 August, 11.30 am to 1.30 pm. The guest speaker at 12.30 pm will be Karen Stade, talking about her upcoming book, Driven by the Wind: the Memoir of Captain Henry Rose.

The book is based on the memoir of Captain Henry Rose, who wrote them in 1911, a year before he died. However they were written at the request of his adult children, who no doubt knew much if his story. For his descendants today they raised many questions, such as how did Henry’s parents come to be living in what would become Colombia in Central America at the time of his birth in the early 1830s? 

Henry’s great grandson, retired Mapua orchardist Alastair Rose, contracted Karen to research the background of this and other aspects of Henry’s life, from his apprenticeship in the Merchant Navy, his rise through the ranks to become master of his own ship, adventures on the high seas, including exciting clipper ship races to be the first to bring coveted tea from China to England, and transporting convicts to Australia. In time he brought English emigrants to Canterbury and became the Wellington branch manager of the NZ Shipping Company. He was elected to the first Wellington Harbour Board and served as chairman. Using family history records, maritime records and newspaper stories to track Henry, an extensively-researched story of an extraordinary life emerged.

The venue for Writers at Lunchtime is The Prince Albert, 113 Nile Street, Nelson (car parking is accessed from Tasman Street). Come any time from 11.30 am, but make sure to be there at 12.30 pm to hear Karen’s talk. Everyone is welcome. For more information contact Chrissie on 03-5469818.