News

Whenever a new form of recycling is heralded as a contribution to the life of the planet and a reduction in the carbon footprint, there spring up a host of 'nay-sayers' that highlight the problems with it. None more so than garden composting or recycling. It's been described as 'a dangerous folly of the middle classes' and some other even less kinder descriptions that focus on the dangers of not doing it correctly, when in reality it can be a very productive and useful tool for the avid gardener. Leading agro-scientist Bill Butterworth explains the 'why' of composting: "There is...

The time that Arthur Conan Doyle spent in Devon was critical. It was only when he wrote 'The Hound of The Baskervilles' did Sherlock Holmes become a worldwide phenomenon. It was there, on Dartmoor that Conan Doyle got the inspiration for what was to become the most famous, and most important, crime fiction mystery of all time. Two leading Holmes historians Paul R. Spiring and Brian W. Pugh have teamed up with a Devonian historian Sandru Bhanji to create the definitive guide to Sherlock Holmes and Devon. Arthur Conan Doyle, Sherlock Holmes and Devon: A Complete Tour Guide & Companion (MX Publishing,15th June) contains detailed descriptions, background and even GPS co-ordinates for thirty key Sherlock Holmes and Arthur Conan Doyle sites across Devon.

To celebrate Sir Arthur Conan Doyle's birthday on the 22nd May, one of the world's most renown Sherlock Holmes historians Alistair Duncan appeared at Waterstones Croydon from 11am to sign copies of all three of his books - but in particular his latest book  'The Norwood Author' which is very much a local book for the store. Fans were treated to a rare bookstore appearance from Duncan who lives in South London Conan Doyle wrote many of his Sherlock Holmes stories while he was a resident in Norwood and many commentators feel that some of his best work came during...

Hats off to Molly Carr whose debut novel 'The Sign Of Fear' is a wonderful book that charts the adventures of Mrs.Watson, the wife of Dr.Watson and her sidekick Emily Fanshaw. With a supporting cast of Sherlock Holmes, Dr.Watson and Moriarty it is a great story and a fresh female approach to the Holmes canon.

So you are on your way to London and you want to visit some of the best places, but don't want to be the average kind of tourist? Several visitors from the USA in particular are turning the clock back 100 years and following in the footsteps of the world's most famous detective - Sherlock Holmes. Holmes historian Alistair Duncan came up with the brilliant idea of basing a guide around the places that appear in Holmes stories, but that were also dear to the author Sir Arthur Conan Doyle. 'Close To Holmes' takes us around the main locations and...