EILEEN LAYS A GHOST TO REST

Eileen has returned to the site of a concentration camp where she worked as a translator following the end of World War Two. The notorious Fort Breendonk, situated near Antwerp, was captured by the Nazis during their invasion of Belgium; re-purposed into a prison camp for political prisoners, resistance members and Jews, the site witnessed innumerable tortures and executions until its liberation by Allied forces in 1944.

Eileen was in Belgium to commemorate the seventieth anniversary of the death of dambuster Guy Gibson, and hadn't originally intended to revisit Breendonk. Her reluctance is understandable. Not long after VE day, Eileen was drafted to unearth, and to explain to RAF officers, the extent of the atrocities carried out in the camp; on top of the horrors related to her, which included human waterwheels and boiling-water showers, she also had to contend with the Belgian collaborators then imprisoned there.

However, with the assistance of two RAF cadets, ultimately Eileen took the opportunity to, in her own words, 'lay a ghost to rest', and spent a day touring the memorial museum into which the camp has been converted. Though glad to have done so, Eileen described the trip as 'very sombre'. Much of what she recalls from her service remains: the blood-stained posts to which prisoners were tied prior to being shot, the gallows, the mud field in which prisoners were buried up to their neck.

 www.candyjarbooks.co.uk

EILEEN PAYS HER RESPECTS

Eileen is to visit the grave of Guy Gibson, the leader of the Dambusters, to commemorate the seventieth anniversary of his death. Eileen was one of the radar operators to track the Dambusters' daring raid on three German reservoirs, and is also a resident of Gibson's hometown, Penarth.

Gibson was killed on 19th September 1944 while on a raid, and is buried in Seenbergen, Holland. A Dutch family that has tended his grave since his death is to be presented with a commemorative Welsh miner's lamp in thanks.

Eileen is traveling out with Penarth's '617 group', which helps former servicemen and women. In recognition of Allied food-drops in the region, they will deliver two hundred chocolate bars, donated by Penarth newsagent Snells, to local schoolchildren.

Eileen's time as a radar operator overseeing the Dambuster raids, the D-Day landings and the Battle of Britain, is recounted in her book One Woman's War, available from Candy Jar Books.

http://www.candy-jar.co.uk/books/onewomanswar.html

WAR HEROES' REUNION

Eileen Younghusband, author of One Woman’s War, joined eighty of her fellow veterans at Bletchley Park this week to mark the seventy-fifth anniversary of operations beginning at the site.  Now a museum, the code-breaking and intelligence operations conducted at the mansion are credited with shortening the Second World War by ‘two to four years’.

For many decades after the end of the war, employees of Bletchley Park were so tight-lipped about their top-secret work that Churchill labelled them ‘the geese that laid the golden eggs and never cackled’. However, with a major new film on their operations soon to be released, recognition for, and interest in, the team that cracked the enigma cipher is at an all-time high.

Eileen herself joined the war effort when she was nineteen, in 1941, and served as a Filterer Officer on RAF bases across the country.  Her own story went untold for years, she, like her colleagues,  having signed the Official Secrets Act; it is now available in One Woman’s War, an autobiography that is a testament to the invaluable work of the WAAF in the fight against fascism.

EILEEN IMORTALISED

With a BEM and a People's Book Prize under her belt, Eileen is no stranger to awards. But today she received an honour with a difference: a portrait by Cardiff artist Nathan Wyburn. Nathan, who will be familiar to many from his run to the final of Britain's Got Talent, is famous for creating his work out of unconventional materials; think Simon Cowell painted with Marmite, or Fabio Capello with spaghetti bolognese. So it's hardly a surprise that he didn't depict Eileen with watercolours. Instead, Nathan used miniature WW2-related images  -- Churchill, Westminster, ration posters, rocket launches -- to recreate Eileen as she can be seen on the cover of One Woman's War.

Nathan presented Eileen with his work at the opening of his show Not That Kind of Art, which is to run until the end of September in The Old Library. Eileen was delighted with the work, describing Nathan as a 'great talent'.

 

CURTAIN UP

Eileen Younghusband’s One Woman’s War has been turned into a play for the first time! Two French school students took on the task and the curtain goes up today.

Eileen was thrilled to receive an email from Parisian students Isaure and Elvire who had chosen to base their school history project on One Woman’s War. The sixteen-year-olds felt Eileen’s book was an excellent resource for their presentation on Women in the RAF and contacted her with a few questions. Eileen has been in regular contact with the pair, one of whom is playing her in the assessed performance, and wishes them the best of luck with their upcoming exams.

EILEEN APPEARS ON EGGHEADS

Candy Jar author Eileen Younghusband had an exciting opportunity to take part in the BBC TV show 'Eggheads' recently. Taking on the Eggheads as part of a 'People's Book Prize' team, Eileen battled it out over a range of topics including her specialty, Food and Drink.

Eileen has to remain tight-lipped about the outcome until the show is broadcast, but in the meantime, here's a picture of her and the rest of the gang on the day of filming:

Eileen has authored two titles with Candy Jar Books: One Womans' War and Men I Have Known, which are available via the usual outlets as well as direct from Candy Jar.

www.candyjarbooks.co.uk

CANDY JAR BOOKS NOMINATED FOR THE PEOPLE'S BOOK PRIZE AGAIN

For the second year running, Candy Jar is in with a chance of winning The People’s Book Prize!

The winner is chosen solely by you the readers; the most significant judges of all. Founded by best-selling author Dame Beryl Bainbridge, it’s one of the only competitions to truly represent what the people want and enjoy – so we need your votes to showcase the amazing talent emerging from Candy Jar this year! Last year our very own book One Woman's War by Eileen Younghusband won the non-fiction category, and we are keen to score another win.

Three books in total have been nominated; previous winner Eileen Younghusband’s new book Men I Have Known is in the non-fiction category, New Stars For Old by Marc Read is in the fiction category and Beware of the Mirror Man by Benjamin Burford-Jones is in the children’s category.

The readers’ opinions are the only ones that matter, and if you enjoy the books, we would love your votes. 

Just simply go to the The People's Book Prize and register online to vote.

WATERSTONES WELCOMES EILEEN!

To promote the release of her latest book Men I Have Known, Eileen spent Saturday signing copies in Waterstones Cardiff.

Eileen with her books and PBP trophy.

Eager to speak with the public, Eileen was able to talk about her time in the Secret Filter Room during WW2 with war enthusiasts, as well as any passer-by with a hint of curiosity.

It gave her a chance to speak about the impressive range of men she has met throughout her eventful life, as covered in the her fascinating new book Men I Have Known. The list includes Dylan Thomas, Rex Harrison, John Barrowman and even Idi Amin - all having varied degrees of impact on Eileen herself.

Click here to order your copy.

ONE WOMAN'S WAR AND THE PEOPLE'S BOOK PRIZE - VIDEO

In May this year, Candy Jar author Eileen Younghusband was thrilled to learn that her book 'One Woman's War' won the People's Book Prize for non-fiction.

One Woman’s War is a personal account of war as a member of the Women’s Auxiliary Air Force (WAAF) and gives a unique insight into life in the top secret filter rooms of World War Two.

Eileen was overjoyed in receiving the prize – attending the award ceremony at Stationer's Hall in London. She said: “I would like to thank everybody for voting for me. I am delighted. However, I do feel some of the recognition must go to the small band of women who went to war and contributed to victory in the Filter Rooms of RAF Fighter Command in the defence of Britain. I dedicate this award to all of them.”

You can watch a video interview with Eileen here:

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The People’s Book Prize is a literary competition open to all published authors and judged solely by the general public. The annual event presented its first awards in 2010 following the death of its founding patron Dame Beryl Bainbridge DBE.

One Woman's War by Eileen Younghusband is available as a paperback priced £8.99. A DVD version, featuring historical footage from WW2, can also be bought from Candy Jar Books.

www.onewomanswar.co.uk

www.candyjarbooks.co.uk

EILEEN APPEARS IN THE SOUTH WALES ECHO!

Hot off her success at The People's Book Prize awards ceremony and her British Empire Medal (BEM), Eileen finds herself getting some well-deserved recognition for her achievments in today's edition of the South Wales Echo:

Eileen Younghusband with her award-winning book 'One Woman's War'.

EILEEN WINS PEOPLE'S BOOK PRIZE!

Candy Jar Books is pleased to announce that author Eileen Younghusband has been named winner of The People’s Book Prize in the non-fiction 2012/2013 category.

From left to right: TPBP Winners: Griselda Heppel (Ante’s Inferno), Tatiana Wilson (TPBP Founder),
Eileen Younghusband (One Woman’s War), Frederick Forsyth CBE (TPBP Patron), Tony Humpreys
(TPBP Director), Amy Elliott-Smith (A Guide to Becoming Distinctly Average), William Ayot (E-Mail
From the Soul)

Beating the competition of twelve other entries, it marks a proud moment in Eileen’s extraordinary life, as well as being a significant development in Candy Jar’s publishing career. The national literary prize, The People’s Book Prize had been accepting votes since reopening on May 21st. Candy Jar Books had two finalists shortlisted for the prize, Terry Cooper and Eileen Younghusband. Both published by Cardiff-based Candy Jar Books, 91-year-old Eileen Younghusband’s book One Woman’s War had been shortlisted in the non-fiction category while Terry Cooper’s Kangazang!: Star Stuff beat other titles to become a nominated finalist in the fiction category of the competition.

 

With this proud victory comes another day of celebration. Tomorrow (Thursday) Eileen is attending a Buckingham Palace garden party to receive her British Empire Medal (BEM). The British Empire Medal is awarded to individuals for civil or military service worthy of recognition by the Crown.

Eileen was overjoyed in getting the prize. She said: “I would like to thank everybody for voting for me. I am delighted. However, I do feel some of the recognition must go to the small band of women who went to war and contributed to victory in the Filter Rooms of RAF Fighter Command in the defence of Britain. I dedicate this award to all of them.”

The People’s Book Prize is a literary competition open to all published authors and judged solely by the general public. The annual event presented its first awards in 2010 following the death of its founding patron Dame Beryl Bainbridge DBE. Eileen wrote her book to help raise the awareness of the fundamental work of the Filter Room during the Second World War.

One Woman’s War is a personal account of war as a member of the Women’s Auxiliary Air Force (WAAF). She often conducts talks within the community and has recently appeared on the BBC’s The One Show in a short film discussing V2 rockets. Her book has even been endorsed by the likes of John Barrowman and Carwyn Jones.

Kangazang! Star Stuff is the second book of the hilarious Kangazang! Sci-Fi trilogy. The books have received rave reviews from the likes of former Doctor Who, Colin Baker and Starburst magazine who described his writing as “better than [Douglas] Adams”.

Although both Eileen and Terry are indeed pleased to have made it to the finalists, Eileen’s victory as winner of the non-fiction category serves as a fine example of a thrilling and unique perspective on one of Britain’s ‘darkest hours’, giving readers access to a previously secretive operation. Eileen and Candy Jar Books are both very grateful for all votes received, resulting in a momentous and proud moment for both parties involved.

Eileen wins the TPBP for Non-Fiction

For her next project, Eileen will release a book entitled Men I have Known – a chronicling of her various encounters in 91 years with many men of the world including Dylan Thomas, Idi Amin and Rex Harrison. Beyond the format of autobiography, it will instead focus on the difference and range of all the men that Eileen has met, providing an insightful perspective on the 20th Century and its key moments. Voting reopened on the 21st May and continued until the awards ceremony on 29th May.

One Woman's War by Eileen Younghusband is available as a paperback priced £8.99.

www.onewomanswar.co.uk

www.candyjarbooks.co.uk

PEOPLE'S BOOK PRIZE TONIGHT

A final word of encouragement to those that haven't voted yet for the People's Book Prize: with mere hours away before the winners are announced later on tonight, now is your final chance to have your say in who should be the victor!

With Eileen Younghusband's One Woman's War as part of the line-up (alongside Terry Cooper's Kangazang! Star Stuff) we are officially excited about tonight's event!

We have all worked to create something we are immensely proud of here at Candy Jar, and wish good luck to both Eileen and Terry in what is surely an exciting time for them as well!

Click on the link and cast your vote. You can find Eileen's One Woman's War under the 'non-fiction' category, and Terry Cooper's Kangazang under 'ficton'.

Get on it!:www.peoplesbookprize.com/finalist.php

CELEBRATING THE DAMBUSTERS

Little did I realise when I reported for duty at 1600 hours for the eight hour evening watch on May 16th 1943 what was ahead in the next few hours. Nor did I imagine that I would be part of the Filter Room team at Fighter Command HQ, Bentley Priory, tracking the flight of the Dambusters on their famous raid on the Mohne, Sorbe and Eder Dams on the Ruhr.

The Bomber Command teams, consisting of nineteen aircraft from 617 Squadron, left RAF Scampton on the night of 16th May in three groups. The first group was led by Squadron Leader Guy Gibson and included Mickie Martin, seconded from the Royal Australian Air Force. The second and third group followed at regular intervals. They were carrying the new “earthquake” bouncing bomb, invented by Barnes Wallis, scientist, engineer and inventor. The object was to drop their bombs on the approach to the dam wall so that it would be breached and cause vast flooding throughout the Ruhr area. This was where the majority of the vast manufacturing facilities were, producing Germany’s war weapons.

We picked them up as they left the British coast, heading for Germany and crossing via Holland. Flying low in order to evade German Radar, we were able to track them with our Chain Low Radar units. We had no idea of the importance of this mission. History tells us that the first wave managed successfully to drop two bombs breaching the Mohnesee dam. The following groups were not so successful. However, sufficient damage was done to put many factories out of action for some months and because of the flooding of agricultural land, cripple food production for many years. Sadly, many of the foreign slave workers from Belgian, Holland and France, employed in making armaments, were also killed.

When we picked up the aircraft tracks on their return, it was obvious we had lost a large number of aircraft in this operation. We were always advised of the squadrons operating and frequently several of the Filter Room personnel would have family or boy friends amongst the crews. Yet, they never failed in their duties, continuing to plot, to filter or to tell – the necessary tasks in this vital part of the Dowding System, which defended our shores and tracked our air crews.

Years later in the sixties, when running The Duke Hotel at Bratton, I had the privilege of meeting Mickie Martin and other members of that memorable operation when they called in for a meal during a reunion. On learning that my husband and I were both wartime members of the Royal Air Force, in no time a party developed and we played one of the games the crews indulged when letting off steam after an operation. Everyone would crouch on the floor, blindfolded and clutching a rolled newspaper. The object was to target a fellow player. If we managed to hit him with our paper, they were then out of the game until there was only one left – the winner then enjoyed free drinks for the rest of the night.

And now seventy years later on this special anniversary, the memories all come flooding back.

Eileen

EILEEN APPEARS ON THE ONE SHOW!

Author Eileen Younghusband recently appeared on BBC's The One Show, talking about how she helped track Hitler's V2 rockets during World War Two.


www.candyjarbooks.co.uk
www.onewomanswar.co.uk

EILEEN TO APPEAR ON THE ONE SHOW!

Eileen Younghusband (author of 'One Woman's War' and soon-to-be-released 'Men I Have Known') has just completed filming for the BBC’s The One Show. She was approached by the TV show’s producers to talk about her World War II experiences, in particular her work in the Filter Room. Here's how her day of filming went last week:

"It was a day starting at 9 o'clock filming with the presenter Marty Joplin in my house and then a 12 o'clock we had lunch in a village by the Severn Bridge. Transferring to a Land Rover, we headed into the depths of the countryside across a very muddy field which was licensed for rocket launching. We then got stuck in the mud in the middle of a vast field and had to be pulled out by the farmer and his tractor!As we waited for the rocket to be set up and launched, it was glorious sunshine but just when it was ready, torrential April showers and a thunderstorm arrived with vivid lightening. so we filmed under an umbrella. The first two rockets failed to ignite so we had another wait back in the Land Rover. The third was successful but we again filmed in pouring rain.

We did two filmings with a rocket. The second successful one launched well but it should have had a small parachute emerge as it landed so as not to break the rocket – this one failed to open! Fortunately this part was not filmed but the rocketeers were left with a very expensive ruined rocket! After that, we filmed in the Land Rover discussing maths whereupon the sun came out and an enormous rainbow appeared.

We moved to a narrow lane where they set up a model V2 with its correct markings, nose down in the grass, and we then explained all the calculations, waving my slide rule in the air – I was told to explain it clearly and simply! Unfortunately Marty’s mike was not working and then the camera got rain on its lens but we eventually did two good takes. Finally the order came to WRAP!

By then it was 6 o'clock. I was driven home via Newport railway station to drop off Marty, arriving at 7 o'clock in the evening, absolutely shattered.... Quite a day!"

The date of broadcast has yet to be confirmed, but we will post an update as soon as we know.

www.candyjarbooks.co.uk

EILEEN ON THE ROY NOBLE SHOW

Author of One Woman's War and Men I Have Known, Eileen Younghusband has made her most recent public appearance on BBC Wales' Roy Noble show.

During her interview Eileen tells of her historical surname, receiving late-night phone calls from Hollywood screenwriter Robert Towne, and receiving the honour of a British Empire Medal (BEM) for her services to lifelong learning. Eileen will receive her medal this summer from a Lord-Lieutenant and will also attend this year's garden party at Buckingham Palace.

Listen to Eileen's interview here. 

One Woman's War is available now from www.candy-jar.co.uk/books/onewomanswar.html

The One Woman's War DVD is also available now from www.candy-jar.co.uk/books/owwdvd.html

EILEEN TALKS ABOUT HER VALUES ON RADIO WALES

Eileen has appeared on Radio Wales, talking to Phil George about the values that helped her as an officer in the Women's Auxiliary Air Force in World War Two.

You can hear the broadcast via iPlayer here.

www.candy-jar.co.uk

EILEEN'S BLETCHLEY PARK PODCAST

In September, Eileen Younghusband (author of One Woman's War) had the honour of visiting Bletchley Park during the Veterans weekend to give a talk on the Filter Room, the lynchpin of Air Chief Marshall Dowding’s system of the use of the Radar chain. She described it as a secret kept longer than that of Bletchley Park.

You can listen to Eileen's talk via the Bletchley Park podcast here:



One Woman's War is available now from Candy Jar Books.
www.candyjarbooks.co.uk
www.onewomanswar.co.uk

ITV TRACK EILEEN

Eileen featured in her very own documentary last night (8/11/2012) on ITV Wales.

Welsh Heroes of World War II: Tracking the Enemy depicted Eileen's work in the incredible Filter Rooms, part of the ingenious RADAR chain, during World War II as she tracked planes and incoming bombs over the skies of Britain. Using just their mathematical talents, Eileen and the other WAAF girls were responsible for knowing exactly what was going on in the air. It was their filtered information that determined both the location of airborne aircraft and which were friend or foe.

Eileen speaking on ITV Wales

Tracking the Enemy went beyond the Filter Rooms of World War II in its 25 minute running time and introduced Eileen to the modern system of Air Defence now in place. When asked if she would like to get back to work Eileen replied 'If I could be twenty-one and do it all over again, I would'.

The commemorative window at Bentley priory

A truly inspiring documentary, Tracking the Enemy has helped to highlight the vital work done by the young women of the WAAF who have now been honoured at the home of the Royal Air Force, Bentley Priory, with a stunning stained glass window. For more information on the programme and for a sneak preview of the show, please click here

Eileen's book One Woman's War is currently in the final stages of its transition from page to screen. The one hour documentary tells Eileen's story of her (so far) 91 years, covering everything from her childhood to her marriage to dealing scrap metal for a company in Spain. A truly remarkable life, One Woman's War is due for release in December*.

Watch this space for the One Woman's War trailer coming soon.



*date of releases subject to change.

WHY I WRITE...

I decided to do a little self-analysis and came up with the following results!

Why I Write...

I wrote to record but now

I write to reveal,

I write to remember

I write to connect with the past,

I write to influence the future,

I write to savour the present,

I write for pleasure or to overcome pain,

I write when I’m glad, when I’m sad, when I’m lonely,

I write with spontaneity mostly, with effort occasionally,

I write as if I'm talking to a friend,

I write frequently,

I write letters and poems, prose and reports,

I write of the good in the world and the bad,

I write always in hope of a reader,

I write prepared to be criticised, condemned or congratulated,

I write because I love words and the effect of words,

I write to my friends every Christmas with a report of the year,

I write for my own satisfaction and hopefully others pleasure,

I write to keep in touch,

I write when I cannot sleep,

I write to forget,

I write and I write and I write.

Eileen Younghusband

www.onewomanswar.co.uk