About the Book
ENGLAND’S STORY… NO. 1 BEST SELLER CHILDREN’S BOOK AT CHALKE VALLEY HISTORY FESTIVALS!
Welcome… to England’s Story.
I do hope that you find on reading this book, that it is a modern and interesting way of giving primary school children a sure chronological foundation of our history, before they move to further “explorations and specialisations” in the subject at secondary schools.
It has already been said that it is a refreshingly new “take” on the amazing story of England from 55 BC (Julius Caesar’s invasion) to 2012 and the London Olympic Games. The book is a “conversational piece” in which the central characters, twins Nikki and Sam ask questions on a visit to their grandparents – “When did England begin?” and “How did it get its name?” The resulting dialogue between the twins and their grandfather, gradually traces, chapter by chapter, the whole 2000-year story in the book’s 152 pages.
England’s Story was launched at the Chalke Valley History Festival’s special day for Year 6 children, on Wednesday 25th of June 2014. (http://www.cvhf.org.uk/) What a great day that was! Over 100 children came to my talk and helped to add their enthusiasm to this special event.
Happy reading!
Bryan Beggs, 2014
England’s Story is sold in aid of Chalke Valley History Trust (Reg. Charity No. 1148413).
“Created to help further the education of history in our schools.”
Latest News
9th September 2014
At Bryan’s request, The Worshipful the Mayor of Salisbury, Cllr Mrs. Jo Broom, presented a donation of £1000 from the sales to date of England’s Story to Lady Marland, one of the trustees of the Chalke Valley History Trust. Rachel Holland and Jane Pleydell-Bouverie, members of Festival Committee, were also present.
This event took place in Waterstones bookshop in Salisbury. Bryan said “Waterstones staff really excelled themselves to assist us on this important occasion. As the book becomes more widely known, we hope to be able to make many similar donations in the months ahead.”
The photograph shows [L to R] Diana Beggs [author’s wife], Rachel Holland and Jane Pleydell-Bouverie [Festival Committee], Lady Penny Marland [trustee C.V.H.T.], Cllr. Jo Broom, the Mayor of Salisbury and the author Bryan Beggs.
22nd October 2014
Bryan presented a copy of England’s story to Keston Primary School where his parents were pupils 100 years ago, and accepted an invitation to return in November to talk to Year 6 pupils about the book, and his years growing up in the village.
2nd March 2015
Click here, to listen to Bryan’s latest interview about England’s Story from 24th February, with Shaun Taylor on Castledown Radio 104.7, during which he also gives an report of his visit to the preview of the Magna Carta Exhibition at Salisbury Cathedral.
14th April 2015
Bryan was contacted by a school librarian from the Isle of Wight who said the following:
“I am a School Librarian and I purchased this book to read with all our year 4/5 pupils. We have maps of Europe and the UK with Ireland for our weekly session and the pupils are really enjoying the learning experience.
We have enjoyed discovering some of our surnames on the map while finding all the places mentioned in the book.
The classes are enjoying the book very much and feel they are becoming well informed about the History of England.
Thank you for all your hard work.
Regards, Mrs Ives”
25th June 2015
Bryan and Diana presented their second donation of £1000 from the sales of England’s Story, to Viscountess Rothermere, who is one of the honorary patrons of The Chalke Valley History Trust, at the end of a talk by Ben Kane at this year’s Chalke Valley History Festival.
[Photograph by kind permission of Andrew Chorley. http://awd-photography.squarespace.com ]
8th – 11th July 2015
Bryan visited the Isle of Wight in response to invitations to talk about England’s Story to the pupils at Oakfield Primary School, Ryde, and Newport Primary School. On both occasions the reactions of the children to Bryan’s talk were excellent and may lead to other similar invitations.
12th July 2016
Another successful year of sales of ENGLAND’S STORY, resulted in Bryan and Diana being able to donate their third cheque for £1000 to Lady Penny Marland [a trustee of the CVHT] at the start of the Chalke Valley History Festival on 27th June 2016. On this occasion they are again accompanied by Jane Pleydell-Bouverie of the organising committee, and assisted by some Year 6 pupils from Sandroyd School.
Bryan said, ‘We had a great time again this year, in spite of some muddy conditions, and we are really pleased that people who bought our book last year came back to tell us how much they enjoyed it.’
The photo by local Ebbsbourne Wake photographer Russell Emm shows [L to R], Lady Marland, Bryan Beggs, the school children, Jane Pleydell-Bouverie and Mrs. Diana Beggs.
1st July 2017
‘Bryan and Diana with students Georgia and Matt of Bournemouth University Media Studies Group, who made a promotional video at this year’s festival interviewing Bryan about ENGLAND’S STORY as part of their course work programme.
A fourth cheque for £1000 was presented earlier in the week by Bryan to The Chalke Valley History Trust from previous sales of the book.
About the Festival
The Chalke Valley History Festival is the largest festival dedicated entirely to history in the UK. 
Offering a unique blend of talks, discussions & debates alongside a vast living history through-the-ages encampment and stunning warbird air show, it is a celebration of history like no other.
The site is set in the heart of Thomas Hardy’s Wessex where an ancient rolling chalk landscape has been trod for millennia. Whether young or old, there is much on offer at this truly unique festival of history.