Tag: A Dish Best Served Cold

Research rabbit hole ~ Portswood 1935

Portswood Road – The Palladium is on the right

I lived in Portswood for a couple of years in the early 1980s, in a flat on Belmont Road, so when I wrote A Dish Best Served Cold, and my characters took me there, I already had a feel for the area. Things were different in Portswood in 1935, but modern-day Portswood still has remnants of its past glory, if you look closely. These, along with old photographs and searches through Kelly’s Directories, formed the bones of my story’s world. As usual, my research led me down some interesting rabbit holes and uncovered lots of snippets of information, many of which never made it onto the page. Rather than waste them, I’ll share them with you now.

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Research rabbit hole ~ Fascism in Southampton 1935

The Coliseum Portland Terrace

The rise of fascism in Britain and the fear of another war are themes running through my latest book, A Dish Best Served Cold. In 1935, the prospect of another war was unthinkable to most people, but the British Union of Fascists were rapidly gaining popularity, thanks to their charismatic leader. The party had over forty thousand members, attracted by Oswald Mosley’s powerful nationalistic speeches. Thousands gathered to hear him at Blackshirt rallies across the country. In 1934, he was well received when he spoke at the Coliseum on Portland Terrace. That he could fill the town’s largest meeting hall speaks volumes about his popularity. 

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Sneak preview ~ A Dish Best Served Cold

You may have noticed that I’ve been quiet for the last couple of weeks. This is partly down to a horrible cold and a great deal of snuggling under a blanket, feeling sorry for myself whilst coughing and sneezing. I have also been busy reading through proofs and approving cover designs for my next novel, A Dish Best Served Cold. The book is set in Southampton in 1935 and features, amongst other things, a famous gold robbery at Croydon Airport. I promise I will tell you more about the research that went into this book later, but for now, I will give you a sneak preview to whet your appetite.

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