Author Talk

Join us as author, veterinarian and naturalist Alick Simmons introduces his new book Treated Like Animals and explains why the issue of animal welfare should concern us all. Alick will give a short talk on the modern challenges, both legal and ethical, that present themselves in looking after animals in our homes, on our farms and in the wild, as well as on the solutions that might be found. Afterwards, Alick will be available for questions, conversation and to sign your copy of his book. --- Alick Simmons is a veterinarian and a naturalist. After a 35-year public service career controlling epidemic diseases of livestock, culminating in eight years as the UK's Deputy Chief Veterinary Officer, in 2015 he began conservation volunteering. He is chair of the Zoological Society of London's Ethics Committee for Animal Research and sits as an independent member of ethics committees for both the RSPB and National Trust. He is former chair of the Universities Federation for Animal Welfare and the Humane Slaughter Association.

In 1776 a young beautiful woman with graceful manners appeared in Flax Bourton, near Bristol and set up home in a haystack. Louisa stayed there for four years. Fashionable folk taking the waters at the Hotwells Spa would take carriage rides out to visit her and she attracted the attention of the rich and famous from London. Maid of the Haystack will be launched at Heron Books at 4pm on Saturday May 20 when author Martin J. Powell will give an insight into how this local historical novel came about.