Category Archives: Front Page

From its infancy in the 1980s to its vibrancy today
Asia’s Financial Industry

9781911175414 The development of the financial industry in Asia has been a history of boom and bust. Over the past four decades, it has transformed from its infancy during the 1980s to the vibrancy today. Looking back at his career from a new joiner in the industry to regional executive with several custodian banks during this period, the author has captured in this book many interesting stories, episodes and events in this fascinating process of development, from the perspective of a custodian, to add some colourful dimensions to the financial history of the region.
Published:July 2016
Paperback:246 pages
Price:$16.5
ISBN:9-781911-175414


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Based in Hong Kong, Lawrence Au is a seasoned professional who has been at the forefront of Asia’s financial industry for more than thirty years. A pioneer and thought leader in the securities services area, he has been instrumental in building several custodian banks' businesses in the region. Under his stewardship as the Asia Pacific head with BNP Paribas Securities Services and Northern Trust, he took the custody franchise of the two banks off the ground to become a leading service provider in the market. Lawrence frequently speaks at conferences and features in industry publications, and was named Custodian Leader of the Year 2012 by Asia Asset Management and Custodian Banker of the Year 2013 by The Asset. Lawrence was presented Lifetime Achievement Award by Asia Asset Management in 2016.
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Why the orthodox approach to smoking cessation is flawed
Dr Gabriel Symonds

gs front cover In spite of knowing the risks, why do smokers keep smoking? They feel compelled to do it because of mild anxiety and nervousness – produced by the smoking itself. The long lists of awful withdrawal symptoms trotted out by orthodox smoking-cessation counsellors are largely untrue; most smokers when they quit do not experience such symptoms – unless they think they will! Understanding this is the key to successful quitting. In this ground-breaking book Dr Symonds exposes how the current approach of governments to the smoking problem is wrong-headed. It’s based on the idea that the way to reduce smoking prevalence is by so-called ‘tobacco control’ – strong health warnings and horrible pictures on cigarette packs, plain packaging, restrictions on where you’re allowed to smoke, increased cigarette taxation, etc.
Published:July 2016
Paperback:148 pages
Price:£11.95
ISBN:9-781911-175209


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Though this has some effect, it doesn’t get to the heart of the problem. Tobacco doesn’t need to be ‘controlled’; it needs to be abolished. Further, for smoking-cessation the emphasis should shift away from nicotine products and drugs to being nicotine- and drug-free. More attention should be paid to evidence which shows the best way to stop smoking is – just stop. Many smokers achieve this on their own, and for those who need help, the Symonds Method is simple, quick and gimmick-free.
Gabriel Symonds is a British general practitioner working in Tokyo for more than thirty years. Now retired from full-time practice, he specialises in smoking cessation counselling using a unique simple method which has successfully helped hundreds of smokers to quit.
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A selection of poems about war – from the Boer War to the present day
Sir Michael Leighton

9781909644427 This is Sir Michael Leighton’s third book of poems to be published. It is a carefully arranged selection of poems about wars – from the Boer War to the present day. They express a strong sense of the waste that is war, but also an equally strong sense of the great inspiration that can be had from those who fought them on our behalf. His positive message is that we should cherish our heritage. The photographs and pictures from Loton Park and elsewhere are mostly published for the first time, and provide a vivid commentary.
Published:November 2015
Hardback:48 pages
Price:£12.50
ISBN:9-781909-644427





Sir Michael Leighton Bart., 11th Baronet of Wattlesborough and current resident of the magnificent Loton Park, on the Shropshire/Wales borders, 34th in descent of his family. He has for some years been an ardent conservationist, ornithologist, wildlife photographer and poet.
He has completed a film on his lifelong passion, the Red Kite, which has been aired on National television. He was instrumental in the re-introduction of this bird back to the Welsh Hills and has formed areas of his estate for wildlife conservation.
A keen motorsport enthusiast, Sir Michael was also responsible for the formation of the National Hill Climb event, which takes place during the summer months in the Deer Park.

The Horse Leads the Way- Honoring the True Role of the Horse in Equine Facilitated Practice
Angela Dunning

9781911175483 The Horse Leads the Way undertakes a timely review of the rapidly growing profession of Equine Facilitated Practice. Part handbook, part personal story, the author blends embodied, grounded techniques and compassionate insights to gently guide this method back to its greatest teachers: the horses themselves.

A graduate of Eponaquest® Worldwide and LEAP, she established her Equine Facilitated Learning (EFL) practice, Equine Reflections, in 2007.
Published:January 2017
Paperback:240 pages
Price:£10.00
ISBN:9-781911-175483





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Angela is a sensitive, intuitive horsewoman. She is also a healer, teacher, writer, community worker and consummate holder of sacred space. She delivers private sessions, talks, workshops, taster sessions, supervision, mentoring and training. She specializes in supporting women through navigating their own personal growth, reconnecting to their bodies, and reclaiming their true essence. Angela lives in Herefordshire, England and delivers her work in the UK and abroad by invitation.

Angela's website is www.thehorsestruth.co.uk
Reader Reviews...

Juli Lynch, Ph.D. Author of The Personality Archetypes of Horsemanship and The Seven Aspects of Human and Horse Transformation and founder of Epala, an equine facilitated coaching and counseling program.
“I LOVE this book. The Horse Leads the Way is a deeply significant and important book that finally outlines clearly the need to honor the horse as the lead facilitator in equine facilitated work. It challenges paradigms that have placed the horse in the role of an object to be acted upon by human facilitators and clients in this growing field, and puts forth a compelling and beautifully written perspective that sees the horse as a sentient being, who is capable beyond a doubt to enter into an inter-species relationship of equality with humans. This book asks those of us working in the field to look deeply within ourselves first and foremost, to seek our own transformation so that we can stand alongside our clients as interpreters and guides – as witnesses to profound processes that horses can and will offer when allowed and honored for who they truly are. This book will be required reading in all my equine facilitated training programs.”

Mike Delaney, Director of LEAP
“I believe that Angela’s book is a true testament to her beliefs that we must treat our equine friends with the love and respect that they deserve and as equal partners and not simply as a ‘useful tool’. You will feel Angela’s empathy and passion on every page. It is an extremely thought provoking and at times challenging read as it asks questions that, as professionals, we should be asking ourselves in order to build the most authentic and compassionate relationship with our horses. This book poses strong questions about how we treat our equine partners and if we value enough their staggering contribution. Do we appreciate this? Do we value them enough? Do we treat them as equal partners or ‘tools’ to be picked up and discarded as required? I believe that Angela’s insights are powerful and are a breath of fresh air in today’s equine assisted world. Some may even find it a difficult read as it really questions what we do, but I would urge everyone to read it and take from it what you need to improve your professional practice and the lives of your horses; ultimately creating a more valuable and positive experience for our clients.”

Amazon Review
This book is a must-read for anyone who wants to include horses in any kind of interventions intended to benefit humans, whether for therapy, personal development or learning. Angela's perspective comes from a deep lifelong connection with horses and her practical and encouraging approach leaves us with no excuse for not questioning and reflecting on our own practice - valuing the horses as central to this work. I would highly recommend this book for those who are new to equine facilitated work and for those who have been doing it for many years. There is always more to learn.

Amazon Review
Employing an engaging mixture of practical advice and personal stories, this book covers wide ranging areas in this developing field of work. The author deals with complex topics sensitively, clearly and with a passion which always keeps the reader interested

Biography of a bankrupt Englishman who became a Founding Father of the USA.
Colin Gwinnett Sharp

9781911175001 Button Gwinnett was a signatory to the Declaration of Independence. His short-lived but meteroic political career has invited much conjecture but the lack of any obvious legacy has since condemned him to semi-oblivion - apart from his signature which is now the most sought after in the United States. This book fills a gap in our knowledge. It tells the story of Gwinnett's life in gripping detail: from 1762 and his arrival in America as a bankrupt Englishman, to Founding Father in 1776, and finally to his death in a duel the following year. It examines how he rose by dubious means to become one of the largest landowners in the State of Georgia and leader of the Popular Party, and it lays out the complex steps by means of which, in 1776, he placed his signature on the Declaration of Independence and became successively Speaker, Commander-in-Chief and President of Georgia - before an untimely death in an unnecessary duel.
Published:1st Dec 2015
Paperback:162 pages
Price:£8.50
ISBN:9-781911-175001

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Colin Gwinnett Sharp is a former Royal Navy Commander and an indirect descendant of Button Gwinnett who first came to know of his forbear's life whilst serving in the British Embassy in Washington DC.
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England’s ‘love affair’ with the natural world over the last two hundred years.
Ian Alexander

The English Love Affair with Nature We English, supposedly cold and unemotional, are helplessly in love with nature. We fell in love two hundred years ago and, since then, have been on a wild roller-coaster ride through escapism, romanticism, art, animal cruelty, conservation, birdwatching, the back-to-nature movement and much more. Today we live with pets, gardening, wildlife documentaries and smartphone apps.
The English Love Affair with Nature tells the story of this extraordinarily long, tangled and passionate romance, how we fell in love, and why we are still mad about nature.


Ian Alexander was educated at Winchester and Cambridge. He has written three books and many peer-reviewed articles on software engineering. He has been in love with nature all his life, and became fascinated by the question of how, why, and when a whole nation fell in love.
www.obsessedbynature.com
Published:1st April 2015
Paperback:320 pages
Price:£12.50
ISBN:9-781909-644465

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Reviews...

Passionate landscapes with an engaging guide
Ian Alexander introduces his theme with a wink ..'the facts alone can be dry- but the bump and grind are not easy to put into words after the event.' So we can expect a factual account of the development of awareness of Nature – matched with a love affair. He's set himself a hard task – and he succeeds remarkably. Historically he describes the English using Newtonian science to liberate themselves from the mental constraints of a medieval God-centred universe. This uncovers the combined potential of the quest for discovery and also reveals Nature in the raw as it were, fit to be wooed and pursued. The scope of this passionate quest is phenomenal: from romantic poetry to village dogshows, from Victorian collectors to naval camouflage, traditional rural scenes to technical advancement. To a non-expert the research is impressively rigorous and credible. However, this is not a catalogue; more of a ramble - discursive, unevenly paced according to the ground covered, with pauses for perspective or reflection. Our author /guide keeps us company with beautifully described vignettes of natural observation; - lending a beguilingly personal quality to big themes. It is inevitably episodic- the kind of book that could be dipped into- but I found the story thread strong enough to keep me engaged from start to finish.

late eighteenth century the English people have been in love with nature
Ian Alexander’s book investigates the premise that since the late eighteenth century the English people have been in love with nature; with leisure time and literacy increasing and a rising number of available books about nature the love affair grew and with the population’s migration into the cities to fuel the industrial revolution’s need for workers the prevailing attitude altered from taking nature for granting to idealising it. Starting with the publication of Gilbert White’s ‘Natural History of Selborne’ and Thomas Bewick’s ‘A History of British Birds’ the relationship with nature is explored through a bewildering number of sources such as nineteenth century scientific pioneers Charles Lyell, Alfred Russell-Wallace and Charles Darwin but also landscape gardeners, romantic poets and modern children’s authors amongst many others. Another theme of the book is the multi-faceted nature of the word ‘nature’, from harsh agricultural drudgery to idealised rural fantasy and from the viewpoints of both individuals and society. Controversies over the age of the Earth and evolution are examined, brought to public attention by the developing sciences of geology, palaeontology and taxonomy. The growth of the conservation movement from the end of the nineteenth century is also explored. The discussions are framed by the author’s own observations of nature, clearly communicating his passion for the subject. The chronology, dramatis personae and bibliography provide an effective aid to further research on the ideas the book raises.

 

Compiled by Butterworth’s father with a contribution from Vaughan Williams.
Wayne Smith

9781909644632 George Butterworth, a close friend of Vaughan Williams, composed some of the most enchanting and acclaimed English music of his time. He was killed during the battle of the Somme as dawn broke on the 5th August, 1916. Owing to the severity of the fighting his body was buried where he lay, the site marked by a simple wooden cross never to be rediscovered. Consequently his name occurs among the 73,357 listed on the Thiepval ‘Memorial to the Missing’. For his actions during the last few weeks of his life, George was awarded two Military Crosses and put forward for a third. In 1918 his father, Alexander Kaye Butterworth, privately published a ‘Memorial Volume’ for family and friends, of which only a handful of copies are known to have survived. It consists of a collection of tributes and letters of appreciation (including a moving contribution from Vaughan Williams) that he had received, alongside reviews of George’s music and concerts.
Published:15th June 2015
Paperback:150 pages
Price:£10
ISBN:9-781909-644632
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The main part of the book consists of George’s own ‘War Diary and Letters’ – a document of historic importance publicly available here for the very first time. This anniversary edition has been produced to mark the centenary of George Butterworth’s death and as a tribute to all of those whose place of rest remains unknown. For them, his ‘Banks of Green Willow’ has become an unofficial anthem.

Detailed survey of the Shropshire Botanical Society.
Alex Lockton & Sarah Whild

frontcover The Shropshire Botanical Society is a not-for profit organization that is open to all botanists in the county and elsewhere, whatever their level of botanical skill. We hold field meetings, produce a bi-annual newsletter and hold indoor meetings with speakers. Our main remit is to provide a forum for recording the distribution of vascular plants, bryophytes and stoneworts within the vice-county, to provide botanical recording data for the conservation of plants and their habitats, and to provide training opportunities for botanists who wish to improve their identification or recording skills. All of our members and committee officers are volunteers and we always welcome new botanists. Many of our members also belong to the Botanical Society of Britain and Ireland, the national organization for all amateur and professional botanists.
Published:1st March 2015
Hardback:454 pages
Price:£35.00
ISBN:9-780953-093724

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To find out more, visit www.bsbi.org.uk – all of our field meetings and newsletters are on the Shropshire page of this site.