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A Dutch Dickensian's Journey through Dickens's Country.
In two parts by Ton Vroom
First part: Eastbourne: 104th International Conference of the
Dickens Fellowship:
The Theme: "People mutht be amuthed"
There is no known record, till this moment, of Charles Dickens visiting Eastbourne.
So it is easy for a Dutch Dickensian to feel at home in such a place... From 21 till 26
July the Annual Conference of the Dickens Fellowship was to be hold in the
Chatsworth Hotel in the same city, the Chatsworth is a very nice post Victorian
Hotel with a splendid view on the pebbled beach.
The delegates, 150, came from all over the world except Antarctica; unfortunately
there is no Branch in that remote continent. The objectives of the Annual
Conference are threefold:
To stimulate and broaden the knowledge of Life Works of Charles Dickens by
way of lectures;
To entertain the delegates in a Dickensian way;
To make excursions to well-known or less-known Dickensian sights and places.
Of course everything in a most becomingly way with excellent victuals and fine
beverages.
In short, nothing, in the eyes of the organizing committee of the Eastbourne Branch
of the Dickens Fellowship, was good enough for the right hearted Dickensian
delegates to let them feel at home!
Chatsworth Hotel Eastbourne
