Author News & Events
J. GORDON MUMFORD
Gordon Mumford enjoys giving book readings and talks to libraries, schools, writers' groups, and various other organizations, augmented by visual presentations. He is also available to conduct workshops on writing memoirs.
Gordon gives Power Point presentations and readings. These include his experiences as a young Radio Officer in World War II, or life in East Africa. Barbara and Gordon will talk about their experiences and answer questions.
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Current Readings & Appearances
Background Information
During World War II, when he was seventeen, Gordon joined the Merchant Navy. He shares his experiences, including being torpedoed in the Atlantic (Dec. 1942) and mined in the Scheldt Estuary, southern Holland (Dec. 1944). He also served in the Mediterranean and the South Pacific area.
Gordon was twenty-three when he went to East Africa as an assistant engineer in February, 1949. A field services specialist, Gordon was involved on a major 4-year project to survey and install a viable route for a modern VHF radio repeater multi-channel telecommunications system across East Africa (long distance telephone, etc.). He also installed the VHF Emergency Radio Systems linking remote farms. Living under canvas in isolated areas, he often worked alone, encountering inhospitable country, wild animals, extreme weather conditions, and later, a savage civil war. On more than one occasion, he was lucky to escape with his life.
After his first marriage ended in divorce, Gordon immigrated to Canada in 1958, where he studied to become a teacher. While at university, he met Barbara and in 1961 they went to Kenya. For the next twenty years, Gordon was a telecommunications instructor in Kenya, Nigeria, South Africa, Saudi Arabia, and Indonesia. He worked on a variety of technical aid projects (CIDA, UNESCO, etc.) in the 1960s and 1970s, while Barbara worked as a librarian and teacher.
Barbara and Gordon will talk about living in Africa, where their two young children went to school, and answer questions about their experiences. Gordon taught electronics, while Barbara taught primary school. They also organized national and international tennis events for both school children and adults.
Link here for a more detailed version of Gordon's biographical information.
Readings & Appearances
Wednesday, February 7 - 12, 2012 - VANCOUVER INTERNATIONAL BOAT SHOW: Gordon was one of the Marine Authors in their booth at the Boat Show.
Saturday, April 16, 2011 - LIT FEST NEW WEST: Gordon Mumford is among New Westminster writers who will be exhibiting books at Douglas College at the 3rd annual Literary Festival. Details to come. For more information, see the Arts Council of New Westminster.
Monday, December 15, 7:30-9:30 pm: Gordon is one of the featured readers at the Main Branch of the Vancouver Public Library (with World Poetry).
VETERANS' WEEK: October/November 2010: Gordon Mumford was speaking to the Sea Cadets and visiting high school classes in Coquitlam, North Delta and Surrey.
NW 2010 LITERARY FESTIVAL, April 2010 : Gordon amongst the New Westminster authors taking part in the Literary Festival at the Royal City Mall.
VETERANS' WEEK: October/November 2009: Gordon Mumford was speaking to the Sea Cadets and visiting high school classes in New Westminster
2009 LITERARY FESTIVAL AprilGordon was one of New Westminster authors taking part in the Literary Festival at the Royal City Mall.
VETERANS' WEEK: October/November 2008: Gordon is visiting high school classes and sea cadets in New Westminster.
Writers Meet 'N Greet September 27, 1 - 4 pm: Fraser Valley-area Writers Meet 'N Greet will be held in the meeing room of the Semiahmoo Library, 1814 - 152 Street in Surrey, BC. Gordon Mumford is one of several authors reading at this event.
WORD ON THE STREET, Sunday, September 28, 11 - 5 pm: WOTS Vancouver takes place in Library Square (Homer and Hamilton Streets between Robson and Georgia. Members of the Canadian Authors Association - Vancouver (including Gordon Mumford) will be there, and reading to the public from their table. Come and meet the authors, hear them read, and buy their books.
AFRIKA DEY, Saturday & Sunday August 16 and 17: Afrika Dey, a two-day festival at the Serbian Cultural Centre in Burnaby. Gordon was a featured reader with the World Poetry Group on Sunday afternoon.
BC DAY: Monday, August 4: Gordon was at the Burnaby Village Museum, with the Burma Star Association. The BC Day celebration commemorated the 150th Anniversary of the founding of BC with a "Salute to Our Veterans.
SUMMER DREAM READING FESTIVAL, Saturday, July 26: At the Summer Dream Reading Festival, in Stanley Park (all day). Gordon is on the the CAA featured readers in the Main Tent at 6:15pm
HERITAGE GRILL, Backroom, on Thursday, April 24: Featured reader. The Heritage Grill is opposite the Army & Navy Store on Columbia Street in New Westminster, BC.
VANCOUVER WEST MARINE STORE: Saturday, April 12: 10 am - 6 pm, Gordon & the Marine Authors will be selling their books at "Community Days" at the Vancouver West Marine Store, 1601 West 2nd Ave. in Vancouver. community Days is in support of the Disabled Sailing Assocation.
BLACK BOND BOOKSTORE, Richmond, BC Saturday, March 29: Gordon will be appearing at Black Bond Bookstore, Lansdowne Mall, Richmond BC.
WORLD POETRY CAFE, Tuesday, Mar 11 AT 9 pm: Gordon will be the guest author on the World Poetry Cafe broadcast, at 9pm PST on (Coop Radio 102.7 fm www.coopradio.org)
WORLD POETRY AWARD NIGHT, Friday, Feb. 29: Barbara Mumford was presented with the Unsung Hero Award for her work in helping other authors/publishers. The award was presented during the World Poetry Gala at the Vancouver Public Library.
VANCOUVER INTERNATIONAL BOAT SHOW, February 6-10, 2008: Marine Authors booth at the Vancouver International Boat Show.
VETERANS WEEK, November, 2007: VETERANS WEEK. Gordon gave a Power Point presentation and spoke to the Sea Cadets at the local armory and to two classes at Queensborough Middle School in New Westminster BC.
WORD ON THE STREET, Sept. 30, 2007: WORD ON THE STREET, Sunday, September 30, in Library Square, outside the main branch of the Vancouver Public Library. Exhibits, readings, etc. Gordon will be at the Canadian Authors Association table
CANADIAN AUTHORS ASSOCIATION MEETING, Sept. 12, 2007: CANADIAN AUTHORS ASSOCIATION, 7 pm, at the Alliance for the Arts & Cultural Events, Suite 100, 938 Howe Street in downtown Vancouver. Gordon will be one of the featured readers at this meeting, reading from In Fate's Footsteps
AFRIKA DEY FESTIVAL, Sept. 1 - 2, 2007: Featured reader at the Afrika Dey Festival, held at the Croatian Centre.
SUMMER DREAM FESTIVAL, July, 2007: Summer Dream Festival, Vancouver BC - Gordon and other members of the Canadian Authors Association were at the Branch's table in Stanley Park.
CANADA DAY, July 1, 2007: Canada Day Celebrations at the Port Moody Station Museum, with the Burma Star Association. Remembering our Veterans: A Celebration of Canadian Military History and our Veterans, presented by the Port Moody Heritage Society.
WORLD POETRY GROUP, March 2007: FEATURED READING, with World Poetry Group at Vancouver Main Public Library, Vancouver BC
VANCOUVER INTERNATIONAL BOAT SHOW, February, 2007: At Vancouver International Boat Show (with Marine Authors).
REMEMBRANCE WEEK, November 2006:During Remembrance Week, he was invited as a World War Two Veteran to schools in Vancouver where he talked (and read) to individual classes and a school assembly about his war experiences.
OSPA LUNCHEON, June 2006:In England & Wales to attended the OSPA lunch, and contact East African sources.
NWPL BOOK READINGS, April 11, 2006:Book Readings from White Man's Drum and Drums of Rebellion, along with films from Kenya in the 1950s. Presented at the New Westminster Public Library.
VPL BOOK READING, April 27, 2006:Book Readings from White Man's Drum & Drums of Rebellion and films from Kenya in the 1950s. Presented at the Vancouver Public Library. April 27 ("Amazing Lives: Fact and Fiction Series")
VANCOUVER INTERNATIONAL BOAT SHOW, February 8 - 12, 2006: At Vancouver International Boat Show (with Marine Authors).
FIRST TUESDAY ASSEMBLY, February 2006: Featured Reader at "First Tuesday Assembly", Chapters (Robson Street).
Contact Information
For more information, or to arrange to have Gordon Mumford speak to your organization, book group, or classroom, please contact us.
To read extracts from his books and reviews, see the Bookstore pages on this website.
