The Dickens Fellowship, 7th August 2024, 99 International Delegates visit Bonchurch
Ninety-Nine International Members of the Dickens Fellowship visit Bonchurch
On 7th August 2024, Bonchurch played host to an impressive and enthusiastic group of ninety-nine delegates from the Dickens Fellowship Conference, held that year in nearby Portsmouth.
Earlier in the year, Ian Dickens, great-great-grandson of Charles Dickens, had reached out to Sue with a simple question: could she lead a walk for around forty delegates, sharing her research into Dickens’s 1849 visit to Bonchurch? Of course, Sue said yes — though as word spread, that original number more than doubled!
To manage the unexpected but welcome surge in interest, Sue recruited three wonderful friends — Jane Cox, Elizabeth Smith, and Neil McCarthy — to help guide the groups. Each leader prepared their route through Bonchurch’s winding lanes, armed with tailored scripts and carefully chosen illustrations.
In the end, the ninety-nine visitors were split into morning and afternoon walks, with a convenient swap at Osborne House allowing everyone to enjoy both historic locations without crowding the narrow village paths. Thanks to the thoughtful planning, the groups moved smoothly through Bonchurch, discovering hidden stories, quirky characters, and the literary echoes left by Dickens and his circle.
It was a day of shared passion, local knowledge, and community teamwork — a true Dickensian gathering, full of curiosity and good humour.
The fun was captured by Jo Briggs and Andrea McCulloch, who rounded off the talented team to make it a truly memorable day.
With many thanks to Jo Briggs and Andrea McCulloch for the photos.