'In the Wake of the Cockleshell Heroes'
Talk
by speakers
Roger and Sandra Downton
for
Clubs, Organisations, Ex-service associations, etc.
Their voyage and the history of Operation Frankton lightheartedly and eloquently presented by
the engaging couple
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A thrilling talk by a daring couple, as featured on BBC TV. This is the true wartime story of a courageous World War II attack by canoe on enemy shipping in the docks of Bordeaux, and is cleverly interwoven with the present day escapade by Roger and Sandra Downton. Armed with very little canoeing experience and a waterproof navigation chart, they survived the many mood swings of the giant, rapid flowing waters of the River Gironde. They paddled the seventy five mile exact course of this dangerous mission, camping rough on the banks of the muddy river. Their nostalgic, engaging presentation creates a dramatic, absorbing and respectfully light-hearted account of their challenging canoe adventure paddling in the wake of the legendary Cockleshell Heroes. Their talk is punctuated with unpredictable and amusing scenarios; your imagination will be fired as you share their chilling and humorous moments.
Roger Downton served with the Royal Green Jackets before embarking upon a career in acting and stand-up comedy. He later formed his own film company at Shepperton Studios and for six years performed his unique cabaret act aboard world cruise liners before meeting his future wife Sandra, a dance teacher and highly acclaimed Belly Dancer. They are both seasoned performers and members of both British Equity and The Speakers Agency.
During Roger’s formative years he was extremely interested and enthusiastic about the Cockleshell Heroes of World War II Operation Frankton. Combined with Sandra’s subsequent fascination with the subject, they unanimously decided to accept the challenge, and make the same gruelling and perilous journey by canoe down the giant flowing River Gironde to the docks at Bordeaux as their personal tribute to those brave men. |
They have written a book about their adventure entitled
“In War Heroes Wake”
Foreword by Bernard Cornwell. ISBN 0-9550166-0-6
Date Sheet
2008
Friday
01 February 2008
10.30am Poole U3A, St Anthony's Church Hall, York Road, Broadstone
Thursday
04 February 2008
7.45pm Oakdale St Georges Ladies Evening Group, St George's Church, Darby's Lane, Oakdale, Poole
Tuesday
05 February 2008
12.30pm Torbay Women's Luncheon Club, Devon
Wednesday
06 February 2008
10.30am Salisbury and District U3A, Methodist Church Hall, St Edmunds Church Street, Salisbury
Wednesday
06 February 2008
2.00pm Alderholt Friendship Club, The Village Hall
Wednesday
13 February 2008
2.00pm Anton U3A, Burghclere Down Hall, Berry Way, Andover, SP10 3RZ
Thursday
28 February 2008
2.15pm Solent U3A, Titchfield Community Centre
Thursday
28 February 2008
8.00pm The Probus Club of Basingstoke, United Reform Church, London Street
Wednesday
05 March 2008
2.00pm Poole Group of the National Women's Register, Sandbanks Road, Poole
Saturday
15 March 2008
7.30pm Kingsbridge Branch of the Totnes Conservative Association, Devon
Wednesday
19 March 2008
12.15pm King Alfred's branch of the Winchester Probus Club Luncheon, Winchester Rugby Football Club
Tuesday
01 April 2008
2.00pm Sunny Hill Club, Sunny Hill Community Church, Sunny Hill Road, Parkstone, Poole
Friday
04 April 2008
10.30am Civil Service Retirement Fellowship Totton and Waterside, Totton and Eling Community Centre, Southampton
Wednesday
09 April 2008
2.00pm The Women's Royal Army Corps Association, Durley Hall Hotel, Bournemouth
Thursday
01 May 2008
2.00pm The Harbourside Club, Salvation Army Hall, 2 New Orchard, Poole
Thursday
01 May 2008
10.30am Shaftesbury & Gillingham U3A, The Christian Centre, Christy's Lane, Shaftesbury
Wednesday
07 May 2008
2.00pm Monks Brook U3A, St Boniface Church, Chandler's Ford
Tuesday
13 May 2008
2.30pm Bridport History Society, Bridport United Church, East Street
Wednesday
21 May 2008
1.30pm Ladies Probus Luncheon, King's Head, Wimborne
Wednesday
13 August 2008
8.15pm Royal Naval Association, Trinity Club, Dorchester
Thursday
14 August 2008
11.00am Stour Valley Probus Club, Crown Hotel, Blandford
Tuesday
16 September 2008
2.00pm Waterside New Forest U3A, St Andrews Centre, Beaulieu Road, Dibden Purlieu
Monday
22 September 2008
2.30pm East Dorset National Trust Association, Memorial Hall, West Moors
Wednesday
24 September 2008
Barton-on-Sea Probus Club Luncheon, Shorefield Park, Downton, Milford-on-Sea
Tuesday
07 October 2008
2.00pm U3A Southampton, St James Methodist church hall, St James Road, Shirley
Saturday
11 October 2008
2.30pm World Ship Society, Dorset Branch, Broadstone Art and Community Centre
Thursday
06 November 2008
11.00am Hamworthy Morning Townswomen's Guild, Community Hall, Lake Road
Tuesday
11 November 2008
11.30am Probus Club of Bournemouth and District Luncheon, Marsham Court Hotel, Russell Cotes Road Bournemouth
Tuesday
18 November 2008
11.15am The Probus Club of Parkstone Luncheon, Riviera Hotel, Alum Chine, Poole
Tuesday
18 November 2008
7.30pm The Society of Poole Men, The Oakdale South Road Middle School Lane, off Palmer Road, Poole
Sunday
01 December 2008
to 14/12/2008 The Black Prince, cruise talks
2009
Monday
02 February 2009
8.00pm Poole Yacht Club Ladies Night
Monday
09 February 2009
The Womens Own Club Ferndown, Ferndown Library
Tuesday
10 February 2009
2.00pm Purbeck Association of National Trust Members, The Mowlem Theatre, Swanage
Wednesday
14 February 2009
10.30am Christchurch Central Women's Institute, British Legion, Christchurch
Tuesday
17 February 2009
2.30pm Woodley & Campmoor Women's Institute, Hampshire
Wednesday
18 February 2009
8.00pm The Royal Engineers Association Bournemouth, Royal British Legion, Club, Ferndown
Monday
23 February 2009
2.30pm Somerford Age Concern Pop-in Centre, High Cross Church, Amethyst Road, Somerford, Christchurch
Tuesday
24 February 2009
7.30pm Poole Maritime Trust, Parkstone Yacht Club, Poole
Wednesday
08 April 2009
7.45pm Greenfingers Gardening & Leisure Club, St Andrew's Room, United Reform Church, Canford Heath
Wednesday
29 April 2009
2.30pm Liphook Over 60's Club, Liphook Village Hall, Headley Road, Liphook, Hants
Monday
11 May 2009
7.15pm Gulliver Evening Women's Institute, Holy Angels Church Hall, Lilliput
Friday
15 May 2009
10.30am Emsworth and District U3A, Community Centre, North Street, Emsworth
Thursday
12 November 2009
7.30pm Havant 50+ Social Club, Bedhampton Social Hall Centre, 21 Bedhampton Road
|
August 2008
Dear Roger and Sandra
I can still feel that German guard's torchlight shining down on me, so
vividly did you describe those closing moments of the Cockleshell
Heroes epic mission during the war. It really does bring home to people of our age, who would have been school children at the time, how much we all owe to our parents and their generation.
How courageous of you both to want to replicate their voyage and how nail biting some of your own adventures were, as you both so admirably, humourously yet modestly described to us last Thursday.
I know that I speak on behalf of all our members in passing on our very grateful thanks to both of you for such an exciting presentation, with well thought out back up material and photographs. Probus members are fortunate in being of an age that can relate to presentations of a historical nature.
Again, very many thanks for your presentation and my best wishes.
Lt Col MRC Weiner
Speaker's Secretary, Stour Valley Probus |
May 2008
Dear Roger and Sandra
Thank you very much for your very interesting and entertaining
presentation at our meeting on Tuesday. I am sure you are well aware of how much it was appreciated by our members and visitors as a very welcome addition to our programme.
A report of the meeting will be sent to the Bridport News and another will be included in our Newsletter for members.
Once again many thanks for a very enjoyable afternoon.
Roland S Moss, Programme Organiser
Bridport History Society
|
May 2008
Dear Roger and Sandra
Thank you very much for coming to give us such an interesting talk. It was greatly enjoyed by our members. Your talk certainly brought the tale of the Cockleshell Heroes to life and your adventures were equally exciting.
Once again, thank you very much for coming to speak to us.
Kate Roberts
Speaker Secretary, U3A Monks Brook
|
February 2008
Dear Roger and Sandra
Many, many thanks for the fantastic talk you gave to us on Tuesday. How very nice to meet you both and to hear your talk "In the Wake of the Cockleshell Heroes", so cleverly interwoven with the journey of the real Cockleshell Heroes. You certainly held the attention of all of our members. It is quite difficult to find a subject that pleases and interests everyone but my goodness you did it splendidly on this occasion. I heard nothing but praise for you both and thank you once again for entertaining us so well.
Yours
Jackie Burling
Torbay Womens Luncheon Club |
February 2008
Dear Roger and Sandra
On behalf of everyone in Poole U3A, I would like to thank you both for a splendid presentation, novel, stimulating and most enjoyable.
Thanks again.
Tony Pawley
Poole U3A |
October 2007
Dear Roger and Sandra
I must thank you for your recent presentation to Portsmouth U3A. Everyone agreed that it was a very interesting and gripping account of your daring and oftern hazardous tribute to the galant heroes who went before you. You really 'did us proud' too, bringing along maps, photographs and artefacts which ably illustrated your talk, and gave us a greater insight to 'what went on' in both journeys - indeed the format of your talk, employed by your two intrepid selves, added a 'keener edge' to the narration.
On behalf of Portsmouth U3A, very many thanks for your visit to us.
With kind regards
Jean Poar, Speakers Secretary, Portsmouth U3A
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October 2007
Dear Roger and Sandra
I write to thank you both once again for your splendid talk and presentation at our lunch on Wednesday.
I know the ladies thoroughloy enjoyed hearing of your exploits, and relating it to the conditions and circumstances in which the Cockleshell Heroes undertook their daring raid brought a greater understanding of what they endured and achieved. Yours was a most fitting tribute.
I hope you will have many more safe and happy adventures in 'Sardine'.
Yours sincerely
Blenda Hailes
Speakers Secretary, Parkstone Yacht Club Ladies Luncheon |
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October 2006
Dear Roger and Sandra
This is a huge ‘thank you' for the wonderful evening you spent with our W.I. on the 24th . Your story had us all spellbound. I hope you don't mind, but I was asked for your details by our President's husband as he has some connection with a French organisation whom he thought would like to hear about your journey. Thank you both again, it was lovely to meet you.
Yours sincerely
Sheila Woodman
Programme Secretary. Verwood WI |
July 2006
Dear Roger and Sandra
Might I kindly refer to our Rotary Club last Wednesday and add my personal thanks to those that were expressed by Rotarian Keith in his formal Vote of Thanks on the evening.
The feedback I have received from Club Members has been very positive, and it is clearly evident that you are, not only very knowledgeable on your subject, but also extremely enthusiastic about it!
I do trust that you both enjoyed the evening with us, as we valued your company.
Warmest regards,
John Bartholomew
President-Elect (Rotary Club of Ferndown) |
December 2005
Dear Roger and Sandra,
We so much enjoyed your presentation on Saturday and are full of admiration for your exploit - thank you for coming to talk to us at our Coffee Morning.
Hazel Hughes, Poole Arts Association
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