The Bude Rotary Club,, along with the Spencer Thorn Bookshop in Bude, held an evening with Joss Ackland at The Falcon Hotel to launch his recently released book entitled 'My Better Half and Me'.
With nearly 100 local residents present, an interview was held between Joss Ackland and Chris Pringle, proprietor of the Spencer Thorn Bookshop, introduced by Rotary President Howard Davis.
The discussion brought out the various aspects of his wife's diary upon which the book is based — their life together of over 50 years; early years of poverty; moving around the many parts of the world together where Joss was acting with a total of seven children; his wife Rosemary's accidental paralysis and, finally, her crippling degenerative and fatal Motor Neurone Disease. The interview lasted over an hour and questions were taken afterwards.
A short presentation was given about the Motor Neurone Disease Association by Sarah Hampton. Formed in 1979, it provides support around the country for sufferers and their families with Care Centres as well as research into the origins, earlier diagnosis and the possible cures.
A vote of thanks was given by Rotarian Bill Kneebone.
There was a buffet dinner during which copies of his books were sold and signed at a discount price. The total sales discount amount was given as a donation to the Motor Neurone Disease Association by the Spencer Thorn Bookshop and matched by the same amount from the Rotary Club of Bude.
A sum of £7.50 from each attendee's ticket was added to make a total amount in excess of £1,000 to the association. The event was arranged by Rotarian Peter Yelland, and pre-event drinks were donated by St Austell Brewery, arranged by Rotarian Tim Browning of The Falcon Hotel.