Prolific public speaker Phyllida bows out 

Following ten years of travelling around Norfolk sharing stories from her three published books, Thorpe resident Phyllida Scrivens has announced her retirement from public speaking.

She said: “I would like to thank everyone who contributed to my 10-year career. It was always a pleasure to visit community groups throughout the county, discovering new towns and villages, while meeting wonderful people, and (hopefully) entertaining them with tales from my research journeys and from my books.”

Since her first talk on January 21, 2015 at Sprowston History Club, Phyllida’s reputation as a speaker rapidly grew.  She said: “When I gave my first ever talk, my debut book Escaping Hitler was not yet published. I had no idea then that over the next ten years I would go on to write two further books, The Lady Lord Mayors of Norwich, and The Great Thorpe Railway Disaster 1874, and give over 350 illustrated presentations.

In September 2024, Phyllida helped raise funds for a memorial plaque to the 26 victims of the local railway disaster. She explained: “I spent three years, much of it during lock-down, researching and writing up my findings about this horrific incident and the victims, aware that the 150th anniversary was not far away.

“I am so grateful to everyone who was involved in our 2024 project to commemorate those who died, and proud that the Bishop of Norwich blessed the plaque inside our Parish Church opposite River Green. A perfect end to my writing career.”

Phyllida, who celebrated her 70th birthday with family in April, has numerous plans for her retirement, including joining the County Arts Bowls Club in Thorpe St Andrew and researching her family history.

 “My ten years of public speaking was an unexpected decade of my life; one I will never forget. My thanks again to all my lovely audiences, who always made me most welcome at their meetings,” she said.