Tag Archives: Ancasta Guide me Swiftly Home

April 10, 2024 · 9:14 am

New Information Sheds Light on my Book Titles

For my Riduna Series I chose Riduna and Ancasta for the titles of my first two books. My understanding at the time was that they were probably of Roman origin.

Why Riduna?

https://viewbook.at/Riduna

Inspired by the island of Alderney

Fond memories of family holidays on the island of Alderney, the birth place of my Great Grandmother, made a wonderful backdrop for my first novel, but snippets of Harriet’s life, dropped into conversation by my father, sowed the seeds of a story which began to form in my head. But why ‘Riduna?’

Genealogy and How it Shaped my Writing

I was so aware of recent World War 2 history of the island, when its inhabitants were evacuated and the island itself was used as a concentration camp. I wanted to distance my novel from this time, after all it was set in the Victoria era. The name ‘Riduna’ could be seen on shop signs, on their crest (below) and the islanders called themselves Ridunains (and still do when talking of rugby teams for example, in interisland matches)

At the time it was believed that Riduna was the Roman name for the island of Alderney. A few historians have disputed this since I released my novel, but, nevertheless, it would be really hard to sever the ties of Alderney to this, its most romantic of names, which is deep in the psyche of true islanders.

Why Ancasta?

http://viewbook.at/Ancasta

Back in 2012, when Ancasta Guide me Swiftly Home, I described my choice of title in a blog post:

Why Ancasta? ~ The Ancasta Stone.

My understanding has crystalised since, by reading a Wikipedia post on Ancasta, which shows her originally as a local Celtic Goddess, probably of the River Itchen in Southampton (from which my novel ebbs and flows.) She was almost certainly adopted by the Romans at their large settlement at Bitterne, up the water, called Clausentum. See the Philosophy Now Forum for clarification.

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Filed under Alderney, Ancasta, Author Diana Jackson, Family History, Inspiration, Riduna

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May 3, 2023 · 10:54 am

Arthur John William Jackson (b:1927) and Patricia Jackson (b:1932 ne Green)

Married 29th August 1953

Isn’t it heart warming looking at photos of parents when they were young or when they were married!

Following on with my series of blog posts on my family history and how it has influenced my writing, we have reached Mum and Dad.

They were both brought up in the Southampton area and were married at Weston Road Church, Woolston. As a family we made regular visits to see Grandma Green there while growing up, and so the whole area was extremely familiar to me. Being a family of walkers, you get to know a place far better that way. Thus, it wasn’t difficult to make it the main setting for my second novel Ancasta ~ Guide me Swiftly Home.

Over the years my parents have shared many memories of their childhood and adolescent days and I’m sure all of this has coloured my writing too.

Arthur Jackson (my dad) didn’t work at Supermarine, like his father (Arthur Walter Jackson) and sister. He joined the RAF right at the end of WW2, but he did remember seeing the prototype Spitfire fly overhead, before he was evacuated to Bournemouth.

Mum and Dad also shared my Great Grandmother Harriet’s love of dancing and, legend has it, that she could turn on a sixpence.

On this trip here, we shared my parents’ last voyage on their favourite P&O ship the Oriana, chosen because it had a good dance floor; our last port of call was (fittingly) Guernsey.

Here are Mum and Dad on deck waving their flags, just as we passed Sark and Herm, two of the smaller Channel Islands.

…and so The Channel Islands, particularly Guernsey and Alderney are in my blood and my family heritage and childhood memories are also of holidays in Wooston, Southampton.

As it happens, when I began writing the first draft of Riduna, my parents decided that they would have a go at writing too. There’s was a sort of prequel to Riduna, set at the time of Elizabeth Quesnel and John Taylor.

I started working on their little book with Dad when they were both showing signs of dementia. He had been frustrated that he couldn’t write conversation. In the end he did not have the patience anymore to focus on it and so, since they passed away, I have spent some time working on their story. It is now at proof readers, but then I hope to work with someone from Alderney Museum to check it for historical authenticity. I won’t say accuracy because, although inspired by our family history, it remains fiction. I’ll keep you posted.

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Filed under Ancasta, Channel Islands, Family History, Inspiration, Southampton, Supermarine, Woolston

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November 11, 2018 · 9:00 am

World War One Heroes ~ a Personal Tribute

79 Uncle Toms Grave

Uncle Tom’s Grave at Metz

As we arrive at the final days of the 100th anniversary of the end of World War One I would like to make a personal tribute to my Grandfather and Great Uncles.

On 6th August 1918 Raymond Jackson (who the family called Tom) of the 3rd Dragoon Guards died as a prisoner of war in Metz Fortress Hospital and was buried at Metz.

75 Tom Capture Death Notification1

My Grandfather Arthur Jackson, born on Guernsey, served on HMS Canada in the Battle of Jutland. He survived WW1. (fortunately for me, otherwise I wouldn’t be here!)

HMS Canada

As a family story goes, Grandpa Jackson’s ship  was in the Mediterranean at one time and docked at Port Said, Egypt. Whilst there Grandpa was told that there was a Jackson in the port hospital. Grandpa visited the man, only to find that it was his brother Great Uncle Earnest Jackson, but unfortunately Ernest had just died.

Did I hear this story when I was a child? I have no idea, but when Dad read ‘Ancasta ~ Guide me Swiftly Home’ my second novel, which in one chapter told a similar tale, he quizzed me on it. Just one of those unexplained coincidences!

 

 

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Filed under Ancasta, Family History, Historical Fiction, The Great War, WW1

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