22nd May 2014, 6.30pm

Sir Arthur Conan Doyle’s 155th Birthday PartyA Sherlock Holmes

Celebration

An MX Publishing and Park Plaza Hotels Event

Tonight’s Agenda

6.30pm Welcome and Sherlock Cocktail and Canapés and the 155 candle birthday cake........7.00pm Live Performance ‘The Singular Exploits of Sherlock Holmes’8.10pm An update on Undershaw 8.30pm Live Interview with author Diane Madsen9.00pm The Raffle

A share of ticket proceeds to The National Literacy Trust and the Undershaw Preservation Trust.

Live Theatre Performance 7-8pm

‘The Singular Exploits of Sherlock Holmes’

-Performed by ‘Don’t Go Into The Cellar’-Selling out venues across the UK-www.facebook.com/CellarTheatre -Performances include Sherlock Holmes and Sexton Blake mysteries

Tonight’s show specially adapted to beone of the first ever live Sherlock Holmestheatre performances to ever take place on Baker Street.

Sherlock’s Home – The Empty House

Undershaw

Undershaw Lives!

Sir Arthur Conan Doyle’s former home, Undershaw has been saved from destruction

For several years the Undershaw Preservation Trust has been fighting plans by developers to carve up the house into separate dwellings and lose it’s iconic status

The fight included a legal battle that went all the way to the High Court in London.

John Gibson, Lynn Gale and Sue Meadows from the Undershaw Preservation Trust join us tonight to celebrate the future of the house

Why is preserving Undershaw important?

At Undershaw, Sir Arthur Conan Doyle ;

Had a hand in designing the house for his ill wifeBrought Sherlock Holmes back to lifeWrote ‘Hound of the Baskervilles’ Entertained eminent literary legends like

Brahm Stoker

It’s the last remaining legacy for the man they call ‘The Father of all modern crime fiction’.

Undershaw Lives!

The new owners ‘Stepping Stones’ will be converting the house into a school and supporting many of the house’s important features

We’re delighted to have Norman Stromsoy from Stepping Stones to tell us a bit about the restoration

The Next Step – The Undershaw Project

http://youtu.be/D8x0MUAI5cw

The Restoration – First Steps

Our architects, Nye Saunders, were selected because of their considerable expertise in working with listed buildings and worked on the building to secure the roof when it was in danger of collapse.

They will work closely with the councils Conservation Officer to identify what can be saved. Our top priority is to ensure that the outside of the building can be seen as Conan Doyle originally designed it so that it can be enjoyed for years to come.

The Restoration – Key Aims

Internally we hope that the principal rooms can be brought back to show their listed features. The study, stained glass windows, staircase, drawing room and several other rooms will receive this treatment

We would like the help of UPT with the restoration – especially in the form of original pictures of the original state of the house. We may look to create a small library in what was the drawing room.

The Restoration – Public Access

We do plan to allow visitors when the school is not in session by arrangement. We would like to talk with the UPT to discuss ideas on how we might work together and allow community use of the facilities once the work is complete.

We would like to see an information board on Undershaw to be provided and erected near the entrance to the site if the council will allow this. It would be great if UPT would like to draw up proposals for its content?

The Restoration – A Costly Process

This is a very costly restoration project and any financial assistance towards the cost of restoring the damaged stained glass windows and Conan Doyle’s study would be wonderful.

Donations can be made to Stepping Stones School Undershaw Appeal. Our contact details can be found on our website www.steppingstones.org.uk .

Book Launch – The Conan Doyle Notes

Multi-award winning author Diane Madsen’s 3rd DD McGill mystery.

The Conan Doyle Notes –The Secret of Jack The Ripper

London and Florida joint launch.

Major competition to win an all expenses holiday to London.......

Live from Florida – Copperfish Books

Live from Florida’s leading mystery bookstore – Copperfish Books

‘Simultaeneous International Launch’

-Sherlock Holmes fans -Sherlock Holmes cocktails-155th Birthday Cake-Glorious sunshine [well, maybe that’s a bit of a stretch.....]

Live Interview and Q&A

Our interviewer is best selling author and host of “Book Talk” interview show – Steve Seitz.

Sherlock Holmes and The Plague of Dracula

The Raffle

The Raffle

The Raffle

The Raffle

Moriarty mug donated by the BBC Sherlock cast and crew

The Raffle

A unique custom LEGO kit to create your own 221b Baker Street.

Designed by the illustrator of the LEGO Sherlock Holmes books, James Macaluso.

LEGO Undershaw

Lego Sherlock Holmes author James Macaluso has created a Lego version of Undershaw – with 1,700 lego bricks!

The Next Event – World Record Attempt

Official Guinness World Record Attempt

‘The most amount of people coming together dressed as Sherlock Holmes’

Tickets available from Eventbrite from next week with a big prize draw for those that take part [click here]

Saturday 19th July, University College London