Murder, mystery - and a good meal
Literary lunch with William Norris at Restaurant Le Brantalou, Quillan, Sunday October 17
A man with a nose for a mystery and the tenacity to tease out the solution is guest speaker at the fourth English language lunch event to be held at Restaurant Le Brantalou in Quillan.
Journalist and author William Norris has combined his lifelong interest in aviation with his investigative skills to write ‘The Man who fell from the Sky’.
On October 17 he will introduce his audience to the amazing story of Alfred Loewenstein. Although Loewenstein’s name rings few bells today, in 1928 his bizarre life and death caused an international stir on a par with the disappearance in 1991 of publisher Robert Maxwell.
Dubbed the Belgian Croesus, the flamboyant financier with the Midas touch was reputed to be the third richest man in the world. He died after falling 4,000 feet into the English Channel from his private aircraft, incredibly unseen by the six other people on board. Or so they said.
Bill Norris certainly believed it incredible, so set out to unravel the strands of the story using the traditional skills of the journalist – combing newspaper archives, tracking down those witnesses still alive, and travelling across continents to interview people face to face. What a refreshing change from the armchair internet researcher. Did he solve the mystery? Come along and find out.
Now living in a village near Quillan, Bill has been a professional writer since joining his local newspaper in Worthing as a cub reporter. After working for a variety of newspapers in England and Africa he became parliamentary correspondent of The Times. Later he became their Africa correspondent covering events and wars in nine countries including Biafra and Mozambique.
In 1968 he moved to ITN as political correspondent having, he says, grown tired of being shot at. His assignments included reporting on the Paris riots of that year. Turning freelance in 1980 he moved to the United States, working for The Times and other publications for 13 years.
In 1997 he became associate director of the PressWise Trust, counselling young journalists and promoting the cause of journalistic ethics. He is also a keen amateur pilot and once built an experimental aircraft to fly across the United States.
He moved to France six years ago with his wife Betty. Bill will have copies of his book to sell and be pleased to sign autographs on the day.
As with the three previous English language events held at Le Brantalou, the day starts with aperitifs and book signing at 11.30am on Sunday October 17. The presentation follows at 12 noon. Those who wish to stay for lunch at 1pm get the whole deal for 25 euros, including three courses with wines. Aperos and talk only, costs just 7 euros. A vegetarian meal option is available but must be booked in advance by name. Le Brantalou Restaurant is on the Domaine de L’Espinet, off the ‘fish’ roundabout on the D118 at Quillan.
Booking for this event is essential. Contact tony@lespinet.com or call 04 68 20 8888
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