ABERGAVENNY BOOK SIGNING 20 SEPTEMBER 2014 : FIRST CALLERS INCLUDING MARTIN and ALISON HICKMAN THE MAYOR AND MAYORESS OF ABERGAVENNY

ABERGAVENNY BOOK SIGNING 20 SEPTEMBER 2014 : FIRST CALLERS INCLUDING MARTIN and ALISON HICKMAN THE MAYOR AND MAYORESS OF ABERGAVENNY 26 September 2014 Blog Part 2 : First Callers: Including the Mayor and Mayoress. William Cross writes about the book signing at The Abergavenny Book Shop on 20 September 2014. Our early callers were a mix of visitors to the town and a few local folk. The chat was lively and intense. Sales began and were consistent throughout the day. A good will call was received from several friends including one of the volunteers at Abergavenny Castle who some time ago did not hesitate in taking some of the leaflets on the war time saga for display at the Castle. Hostility was almost non-existent. However one man offered a leaflet snarled “ I don’t want to read about a bunch of homosexuals in 1942”. Somewhat angered at such blatant homophobia, I replied “ Fair, enough, you are entitled to your view..” A small dramatic moment arose when Martin J Hickman JP, the Mayor of Abergavenny and his lady wife, Alison, the Lady Mayoress appeared close to our selling table, wearing their official chains. To our delight they came over and chatted about the Gay Witch Hunt case and agreed to have a photograph taken with me. Bless them. A very fine couple. But like Royalty it emerged they don’t carry any money, so didn’t buy a book. However it was a great act of courage on their part to be seen with us given that the issue of the war time case still rattles many homes and families in Abergavenny. No other current Abergavenny Town Councillor ( who were ALL e-mailed about the book )made themselves known to us. TO BE CONTINUED.