Launch of Sister Dora by Suzanne Stirke at Walsall Hospital. On Monday, with a table in the Atrium of Walsall Manor Hospital we shared a few lively hours with staff and visitors to the hospital talking about Sister Dora and the new novel I have written about her life, both in Yorkshire and Walsall. It was great to meet up with my old friends who have helped me make writing this book a reality. Georgie and Tina from Walsall Hospital. Ian and Jo from Walsall Library Archives. Rob and Anita from St. Paul’s Church in Walsall. Paul from Dark Foundry. For anyone who missed us on Monday my novel about Sister Dora is now available to buy from the Well Wishers Fundraising Hub in the Hospital Atrium, Monday to Friday, 9am to 5pm. Sister Dora by me, Suzanne Stirke is also available to buy through eBay and digitally on Kindle. After our day in the hospital we went along to the cemetery to pay our respects to Sister Dora for some quiet reflection about her remarkable life.#walsall#SisterDora#booklaunch#westmidlandshistory#wellwisherswalsall

We are so excited to be heading down to Walsall tomorrow for a very special day at Walsall hospital on Monday. I have been invited to launch my new book about Sister Dora at the hospital and we have a full day of events planned. Apart from talking to people about my book and the research that went into it I am particularly looking forward to hearing stories from the folks in Walsall about Sister Dora, any family reminiscences or anecdotes would be great. I shall be in and out of the hospital atrium all day and will have books for sale. After Monday, Sister Dora books will be available from the Well Wishers Fundraising Hub in the hospital atrium @wellwishers Physical books are also available on Amazon and ebooks are available on Kindle. I am really looking forward to seeing all my old friends in Walsall who have helped me to write this story about Sister Dora and to making lots of new friends too.#walsallnhs#booklaunch#walsallhistory#sisterdora#historicalfiction

Great excitement when the Sister Dora books arrived on Wednesday. I couldn’t resist taking a copy of the book and a picture of Dora up to St.Oswald’s at Hauxwell for a few moments of contemplation. After years of research I can hardly believe I have completed this work about the inspiring character of Dorothy Pattison who became known internationally as, ‘Sister Dora’. On Friday evening I invited along some family and friends to share my new book. It was lovely to be introduced by my friend Tracey Iceton whose continuing words of wisdom kept me on the straight and narrow during the writing process. I shared a couple of readings which was followed by a lively Q&A session. A great way to warm up for the coming event at Walsall. Many thanks to everyone who donated to our Yorkshire Cancer Research bucket and helped to raise over £170 for this great cause. #sisterdora#booklaunch#traceyiceton#yorkshirecancerresearch#hauxwellchurch

The big day is almost here! I am expecting my Sister Dora books to be delivered on Wednesday. Our first big event to launch, ‘Sister Dora,’ will be at Walsall Hospital where we have been invited to be part of their September Events to Remember Sister Dora. For anyone in the Walsall area the books will be available after Monday 28th September from the Well Wishers Fundraising Hub in the main atrium of the hospital @wellwishersWHC. I would like to thank everyone, and there are many of you, who have played a part in making this new story about Sister Dora a reality. A heartfelt thank you for your support and kindness. We’ll have more news about our website and forth coming events in the following weeks. #SisterDora#WalsallNHS#Hauxwellchurch#Nursing#Booklaunch

While my final proofs for Sister Dora are at the printers and the book cover has been given 👍I’ve had some time to enjoy Hauxwell church and its extensive history. Commented on by Green, Longstaff and Pevsner, St. Oswald’s has much to offer any history lover. VVH Green DD in his guide to St. Oswald’s tells us; ‘It may be absurd to claim that this church demands attention; yet, quite apart from its intrinsic merit, its history reflects the social and religious scene.’ He goes on; ‘In the churchyard there stands a cross, much mutilated but a witness to the early teaching of the Christian faith in this part of Yorkshire.’ Adding; ‘It seems very probable that Christianity was first preached here at Hauxwell by James the deacon in the seventh century.’ Reflecting the age and importance of St. Oswald’s it is a Grade 1 listed building. Two of my favourite highlights of this church, of which there are many, are the medieval tombstones in the graveyard at the foot the bell tower and the two effigies of Sir Walter de Bardon and his wife. Hanging on the wall above Sir Walter is a hatchment with an explanatory note underneath. #Sisterdora#northyorkshirechurchs#lincolncollegeoxford#medeivalgraves#hatchments

Hauxwell churchyard has been receiving some much needed TLC over the past few weeks and the results were plain to see when we visited on Friday evening. With the sun setting in the west the graveyard and St. Oswald’s were bathed in a dreamy dappled light. Grass has been cut, and the gravel pathway edged and refreshed. Weeds have been pulled, nettles and thistles strimmed and there is now a clear pathway down to the Pattison graves. Many of Sister Dora’s relatives are buried here and the graves can be seen through the trees with the sun setting on them. We are very much looking forward to getting my new book about Sister Dora published in the coming weeks and sharing it with everyone. #sister Dora#Hauxwell church#country churches#walsalNHS#jamescookhospitalinmiddlesborough

What a treat I had on Friday evening. At Blackwell Grange, Darlington, Tracey Iceton launched her latest book, Sparky. We were treated to an insight into the fascinating story of how Tracey met this little barn owl in an animal sanctuary. At first Sparky’s future looked uncertain … however, Tracey stepped in… The highlight of the evening was a chance to see Sparky flying. What better way to spend a gloriously sunny evening…drinking fizz and watching an owl fly! When I left, the queue for her book snaked across the room. Massive congratulations to Tracey. #TraceyIceton#BlackwellGrange#barnowls#darlington#booklaunch

Last Wednesday I spent the morning with Northallerton U3A, where I gave a talk and presentation about Sister Dora. It was great to speak to Northallerton U3A again, what a friendly group. I snapped a pic with my friend Kathy and my old school mate Craig from Northallerton Grammar School… A member of the audience joined the group, a retired nurse but I have been unable to discover this lovely ladies name. A huge thanks to you all for making me so welcome. #Sisterdora#Northallerton#U3A#NorthallertonGrammarSchool#Walsall

I have come across dozens of images through my research of Sister Dora that help to bring her world to life. Thanks to friends and relatives I would like to share two photographs of houses in Yorkshire, Dora would have known well. First is Hauxwell Rectory where Dora was born and lived until she was 30. In this image we have The Duke of Leeds Greyhounds in the foreground. The Rectory was demolished in 1958. The second picture is of Grazing Nook farmhouse between Leyburn and Bedale. Dora’s brother-in-law, Robert Stirk took this farm after the death of his wife Rachel, Dora’s beloved sister. In September 1875 Dora left her work in Walsall for a holiday. She stayed with Robert and his five daughters at Grazing Nook. The old Grazing Nook farmhouse was demolished in the 1970s. Grazing Nook is now famous as, The Barn That Rocks. #sisterdora#yorkshirehistory#walsall#thebarnthatrocks#bedale

While researching Sister Dora I came across a surprising link between Hauxwell, where Sister Dora was born and Walsall. In Hauxwell Church there is a haunting memorial tablet on the chancel wall in remembrance of John Dalton of the parish. In 1643, during the English Civil War, John Dalton formed part of an escort party accompanying Queen Henrietta Maria as she travelled from Bridlington to Oxford to meet with her husband, King Charles l, before the Battle of Edgehill. On the journey the party stayed overnight at the property which later became known as The White Hart Inn in Caldmore, said to be the oldest house in Walsall. Unfortunately, John Dalton was mortally wounded on this journey and he died the following year. He was buried in York Minster on 26 July 1644.#sisterdora #historyofwalsall #yorkminster #englishcivilwar #northyorkshire