An evening with Sir Terry Waite in Whitchurch, Hampshire

The former special envoy of the Archbishop of Canterbury, who was taken hostage while trying to negotiate the release of other hostages. He spent nearly five years in captivity, four of them in solitary confinement.

He is now an experienced and much lauded speaker, an accomplished author and broadcaster, and a regular guest on Radio 4's 'Thought For The Day'.

Books written by Sir Terry will be available to buy and he will be happy to sign books at the end of the evening.

An opportunity will also be given to donate to Sir Terry’s charity Hostage International.

Bar and refreshments available before and during the interval.

Venue: All Hallows Church, Whitchurch, RG28 7AS

Programme - Words & Music - 8 June 2024

Sir Terry Waite, KCMG, CBE and Matthew Rickard, Piano

Welcome & Introduction by Revd David Roche

SirTerry Waite’s Introduction and First Reading

“Dreams”

Johannes Brahms: Intermezzo in E-Flat Major Op 117 No 1

“Footsteps in the Corridor”

Györgi Ligeti: Musica Ricercata, No 9

“Waiting” followed by “You Ask Me Why”

J S Bach: Prelude in B-flat minor from the Well-Tempered Clavier Book 1

“The Homeless”

Claude Debussy: Footprints in the Snow, from Preludes Book 1

“Easter Holidays”

Johannes Brahms: Intermezzo in A-minor, Op 118 No 1

I N T E R V A L

“Lake Victoria”

Wagner, arr. Liszt: Valhalla from Der Ring des Nibelungen

“Numbers”

John Adams: China Gates

“Till Death Do Us Part”

J S Bach: Sarabande from English Suite No 2

“The Kingdom”

Arvo Pärt: For Alina

“Peace”

J S Bach: Jesu Joy of Man’s Desiring

“Do Not Forget Me”

Franz Schubert: Andante from Sonata in A-major, D 66

More Information

The usual format is the first half lasting from forty five to fifty minutes followed by a twenty five minute interval and a final forty five minutes.

Books written by Sir Terry Waite, KCMG, CBE, will be available and payment can be made by cash or card. This side of things will be taken care of by Mrs Jenny Coles. Sir Terry will be happy to sign books at the end of the evening.

Sir Terry Waite, KCMG, CBE

It is over 30 years since Sir Terry Waite was released from captivity in Beirut. As a member of the Archbishop of Canterbury’s private staff he negotiated the release of Hostages from Iran and Libya. Whilst in Lebanon trying to do the same he was captured and spent almost five years in strict solitary confinement.

On his release he decided to devote his time to humanitarian activities and founded Hostage International (hostageinternational.org ) and helped in the establishing of Emmaus for the homeless (emmaus.org.uk ). Today he is President of both charities and is involved with many other organisations working with those on the margins of society.

In captivity, without books or papers and in strict solitary confinement, he realised that to keep alive he had to keep mentally active. He wrote his first book in his head as he never had pen or paper. There was no music but as a lover of music he played in his mind that which he remembered from the past. ‘Music and good language’ he said, ‘have the capacity to breathe harmony into the soul’.

In an evening of words and music, Sir Terry will share something of his experience of those solitary years and also read short extracts from his writings. These will be interspersed with music played by Matthew on the piano. This will be a reflective evening designed to enable us to experience a deeper inner harmony which this world needs so urgently.

Proceeds from the evening will go towards supporting Sir Terry in his humanitarian activities both at home and overseas as well as covering expenses incurred for the evening.

Matthew Rickard studied at the University of Surrey and the Royal Academy of Music where he specialised in piano accompaniment. Matthew is currently accompanist to the award-winning Farnham Youth Choir and works with many other choirs and opera groups on a freelance basis. Since 2018 Matthew has been delighted to collaborate with Sir Terry Waite, KCMG, CBE on a programme of words and music, the latest instalment of which you will be enjoying tonight. Matthew has recorded several CDs for the EM Records and Toccata Classics labels, and has also performed live on BBC Radio 3’s In Tune programme.

Jenny Coles has worked alongside Sir Terry for the past 18+ years and is responsible for selling the books during the evening. Apart from editing manuscripts and illustrating one of his books (Out of the Silence), she assists with driving and is involved herself with many charities. She is married and lives in Suffolk and works with Sir Terry in a totally voluntary capacity.

Books by Sir Terry Waite, KCMG, CBE

A popular speaker and author who lives in Suffolk. He has written several books, all very different. Those available at today’s event are as detailed below including his children’s book.

Sir Terry is very happy to personalise any of the following books you wish to purchase.

Out of the Silence - RRP £11

Solitude - RRP £11

Travels with a Primate - RRP £11

Tales of Tommy Twitchnose - RRP £8

Out of the Silence

Memories, Poems, Reflections

Terry Waite

A wonderful book which is a mixture of both narrative and poetry.

“I read and re-read Out of the Silence. I am still re-reading it! Terry Waite’s thoughts and questions are totally compelling whether in prose or in verse.” Vanessa Redgrave CBE actor.

In this moving sequence of poems and reflections Terry Waite recalls the highs and lows of his life, both during his ordeal and throughout the happier years of humanitarian work that have followed his captivity in Beirut.

Not only do we get a glimpse of his suffering, the book also take us into memories of his later life, reminding us of the joy and contentment to be found in meaningful work, and in the humanity we share each day with those around us.

Solitude

Memories, People, Places

Terry Waite

‘Wonderfully perceptive and engaging.’ Sir Ranulph Fiennes OBE, internationally renowned explorer and author

Former hostage Terry Waite reflects on his experience of solitude and meets others who live in solitude – voluntarily or involuntarily - to explore the challenges, riches, joys and sorrows of the solitary life ‘Solitude is a fact. It is within us, and around us, and has the power to create awe and wonder or to lead us into utter despair…

In this multi-layered and fascinating book, Waite travels around the world to explore what solitude means to a host of people living in very different circumstances – both those who have chosen to live away from society and those whose circumstances have led to them being isolated in various ways.

Waite hopes that this book will encourage those who live ‘in today’s frantic world’ to ‘explore more completely the richness of solitude’. Those who are living unwillingly in solitude may draw comfort from one of his interviewees, reflecting on her time in Africa, who comments that ‘the hard times of solitude may have given me pain but they helped me to grow and understand myself better’.

Travels with a Primate

A humorous account of Sir Terry Waite’s travels around the world with the Archbishop of Canterbury.

“This is Sir Terry as he really is - Wise and Funny . . .”

John Sergeant, journalist and broadcaster.

In this highly entertaining book, Sir Terry Waite, who travelled the world with the Archbishop (Robert Runcie), recounts the more amusing events that occurred (some of which did not go quite as planned!) from China to New Zealand and from the USA to Africa. An unashamedly nostalgic return to the 1980s.

A very funny book!

Tales of Tommy Twitchnose

Sir Terry hopes that these stories written for children, set in a Suffolk Village, will give those who hear or read them as much pleasure as they have given him writing them!

“A delightful set of tales from a master writer. Think you know Sir Terry Waite’s writing? Think again. Here he delivers a book of captivating stories - tales with a golden heart - that are sure to delight young readers. What a treat!” - Paul Karensa, comedian, scriptwriter and children’s author.

“I loved reading these stories with my dad and little sister. They’re so much fun.” Annabel aged 10

Meet Tommy Twitchnose, who lives in a cosy house under the floorboards in a converted barn. Tommy and his family are happy until their peaceful life is interrupted by a large family of town mice appearing on their doorstep . . .

Learn about the mouse families and other small friends set in a Suffolk Village called Cheesethorpe. Fun and adventures with the various characters who you will love! Both children (aged up to 10) reading this book, as well as adults reading the tales to them, will be enthralled by these delightful stories!