Cygnus Book Circles

We received this letter from Joy Pugsley, a Cygnus reader from Devon:

‘For many months I have been thinking of starting a regular Book Circle, similar to the one you run yourselves, and on several occasions thought of writing to you for advice on how I might start this up. I keep wondering whether you could offer printed guidelines on how to run such a Circle, encouraging as many circles as possible to start up, and using Cygnus books of course.

Then just a few days ago, whilst meditating, a thought came into my head that wouldn’t it be fantastic if all these Circles were all reading and discussing the same books as you are in your Circle, at the same time! Somehow, it just seemed that it would bring us all together even more, as one big family.’

As you can imagine, we were very taken with that idea!

There are now more than 80 Cygnus Book Circles around the UK, and even some overseas. They are a great way to meet supportive, like-minded friends! So... if you would like to find out if there is a Cygnus Book Circle near you, or if you'd like to know more about how to start a Cygnus Book Circle yourself, please contact Customer Care on 01550 777701 or info@cygnus-books.co.uk and they will provide all the help you need.

Then if you wish us to add you to a special list of ‘Book Circle Coordinators’, they will also send you a pack containing guidelines, and some posters so that you can advertise for members in local shops.

Cygnus Book Circle Selection

Each month we select a book that we think is ideal for your Book Circle discussion. We offer these books at extra discount when more than one copy is bought at a time, so it is worthwhile for coordinators to place an order for everyone from your group who wishes to buy it.

Book Circle Organisers

This list allows you to find a group in your area, or may prompt you into starting one if there isn't yet one near you.

England
Bedfordshire
Luton, Jacqui Woolsey 0779 956 0695
Birmingham
Moseley, Andria Falk 0121 449 7705
Buckinghamshire
Amersham, Lesley Tulitt 07849 475387
Great Missenden, Maurice Roberts 01494 864639
Cambridgeshire
Babraham, Elizabeth Staveley 01223 830399
Cheshire
Warrington, Giuliana Annibaldi 07886 846892 (or messages to 01925 243825)
Cornwall
Truro, Iyan Harris 01726 882547
County Durham
Sedgefield, Geraldine Richmond 01740 623110
Derbyshire
Chesterfield, Pauline Walker 01246 276452
Glossop, Jacque Garside 01457 86 36 87
Devon
Exmouth, Ruby Horwell 01395 278543
Near Crediton, Caroline Sparke 01363 877427
Dorset
Dorchester, Christine Simmons 01305 266668
Poole/Bournemouth, Jennifer Meek 01202 690428
Essex
Brentwood, Gill Valentine 01277 821697
Colchester, Mrs G L Kennet (please ask Cygnus shop for contact details)
Elmstead Market, Pat Beeson 01206 827576
Greater Manchester
Chorlton, Maxine Donnelly 0161 881 9735
Prestwich, Liz Miller 0161 773 8232
Hampshire
Andover, Peter Dawson 01980 843527
Hayling Island, Alix Stiles 02392 796489
Lee-on-Solent, Jane Parvin 02392 553665
Southampton (East), Bittern Park area Sally Cook 02380 555441
Farnham, (Surrey/Hampshire Border), Claire Hodson 01252 718462
Hertfordshire
Amersham, Lesley Tulitt 07849 475387
Isle of Man
Ramsey, Julie Dropinski 01624 813 812
Kent
Bromley, Jill Moore 0208 464 6943
Cranbrook, Karin Melbye 01580 753880
Nr Rochester, Christine Pexton 01634 725140
Sittingbourne, Zoe Nicholson 01795 426992
Whitstable, Susan Gander 01227 273680
Lancashire
Rochdale, Diane Batcheler 01706 661056
Wigan, Kate Jones 01257 427059
Leicestershire/Rutland
Oakham, Gill Wyatt 01780 720738
Lincolnshire
Kirkby-on-Bain, Mrs J Hilton 01526 353115
Lincoln, Nick & Sylvia Watts 01522 548588 & 01673 885810
North East Lincolnshire, Georgina Thackery 01472 317884
Waltham, Grimsby, Rosemary Turner 01472 828524
London
Highgate, Carol Collier 0208 348 9197
London SW15 (Borders of Surrey), Susannah Faithfull 020 8541 1951
North Harrow, Alice Woods 0208 424 8703
Norfolk
Kings Lynn, Jacqueline Orves 01366 502170
Norwich, Sarah Price 01603 460446
Northamptonshire
Northampton, Soraya Kay Invernizzi 01327 341310
Nottinghamshire
Ravens Head, Nottingham, Corinne Warr 01623 797769
Oxfordshire
Woodstock, Maryrose Price 0845 456 9516
Shropshire
Broselwey, Oriole Cooper 01952 882034
Somerset
Somerton, Jay Jacobs 01458 274314
Staffordshire
Burton on Trent, Jane Sullivan 01283 845947
Gnosall, Yvonne Brown 01785 824956
Surrey
Kingston Upon Thames, Evelyn Hansen 0208 949 2742
Croydon/Bromley, Helene Pitt 0208 777 9375
Farnham, (Surrey/Hampshire Border), Claire Hodson 01252 718462
East Sussex
Robertsbridge, Glenda Procter 01580 830977
Hartfield, Mrs D.Hynam 01892 770262
Polegate, Jane Jones 01323 870409
West Sussex
Haywood Heath, Marian Griffin 01444 455904
Haywood Heath, Dee Cuthbert 01444 484544
Tyne and Wear
Hebburn, Paul & Eileen Winch 01914 835619
Warwickshire
Leamington Spa, Warwickshire Spiritual Network 01926 744962
Southam, Janet Cox 01926 814985
West Midlands
Coventry, Mary Avery 02476 690428
Sutton Coldfield, Ann Brown 01213 555282
Wiltshire
Marlborough, Alex Nicole Wax 01672 512044
Salisbury, Jane Mallen 01722 421289
Worcestershire
Malvern, Emma Savage & Sam Harlow 01684 897755
Yorkshire
Auckley, Doncaster, Joy Coulson 01302 770298
North Yorkshire, Whitby Area, Allison Linda 01947 880698
West Yorkshire, Upper Cumberworth, Denise Whiteley 01484 607074
Otley, Dave Bathram 01943 461092

Wales
Cardiff
Juliette Llewellyn cygnuscardiff@yahoo.co.uk
Fairwater, Gina Fisher 02920 901179
Mid Glamorgan
Caerphilly, Amos Jessie 01443 451650
Denbighshire
Denbigh, Pam Bradley 07887 489215
Gwent
Newport, Rachel Michna 01633 612275
Swansea
Uplands, Alicia Stone 01792 474154
Pembrokeshire
Clunderwen, Hazel Butterworth 01239 710249
Powys
Welshpool, Annie Roberts 01938 556534

Scotland
Angus
Dundee, Heather Knifton 01241 855590 (not yet up and running, but please do get in touch)
Ayrshire
Strathclyde, Agnes Stevens 01292 283021
Scottish Borders
Peeblesshire, Maureen Drennan 01896 833894
Shetland
Lerwick, Louise Burke 01595 693565
West Lothian
Torpichen, Bathgate, Fiona Bartlett fi@therap.co.uk

Eire, Republic Of Ireland
County Cork
Midleton, Sinead Solleveld 021 463 3594
County Durham
Barnard Castle Area, June Terry 07968 487995
County Galway
Salthill, Galway, Molly Molloy 087 315 6800

France
Tarn & Garonne, Near Auvillar Dept 82, Simone Hutchings 0563 95 39 65

For more information on Book Circles please contact Customer Care on 01550 777701 or email info@cygus-books.co.uk.

Thank you to all our members who suggested this development.