An Audience With Constance Briscoe

28 April 2006 - An Audience with Constance Briscoe

Constance Briscoe's thoughts on the night organised exclusively by Talk of The Town.

“I’m looking forward to the talk. It should be very exciting.”

Gentleman – the gauntlet has well and truly been dropped by the main woman herself. Question is, are you man enough to pick it up ? This is a serious point, as the majority of tickets have been sold to women.

Constance meets the public, not just any members of the public, but the Talk of The Town audience.

Toynbee Hall 28 April

Talk of The Town

FEEDBACK

"This evening was profound, inspiring. It's a subject that needs to be aired, debated and addressed. Moving. Beautiful. Thank you."

Ruby Joseph, London

"Constance is real, in the sense that she is open minded and approachable. She is not angry. She simply said she wrote the book to show her children who she is, aside from the ambitious, successful black woman she is.

She may not have been able to say what her experiences were face to face to her children but at least after her children read the book, if they want to ask questions, she can respond to them. I love her spirit and her outlook and also her love to live life."

Mazza, East London.

"Constance was an excellent speaker. A sad story told in a very humorous way. More inspirational speakers like Constance are required."

Jamila Larner Runako, London

Note : Jamila, Keep attending our monthly debates and forthcoming seminars to hear more from our regular and brand new inspirational speakers covering a wide range of topics including relationships, men, women and leadership.

Constance & DJ Elayne

Toynbee Hall packed to listen to the Talk of The Town

Talk of The Town

BOOK REVIEWS

'This is a tough read - it's the autobiographical story of a terrible childhood. Growing up in South London in a large West Indian household, little Constance was singled out for physical abuse by her mother and stepfather ... Few such survivors' stories have ended so triumphantly - Briscoe is now a practising barrister and also one of Britain's first black women judges.'
Marie Claire

'Ugly, her account of her upbringing, makes for harrowing reading. Her Jamaican mother's vocabulary included "Black Bitch", "Scarface" and "Miss Pissabed". When she asked her mother why she treated her so badly, she replied: "Oh, just the fact that you breathe . . ." ... She has written the book to let her children, now teenagers, know "something about their mum", and at the behest of her partner, Tony Arlidge, a writer and QC. Her daughter, studying at St Paul's girls' school, read it and was appalled. Her son, currently applying to Cambridge, is stuck in the middle of the story, too pained to continue.'
The Sunday Times

'This is a lawyer's memoir with a difference, an inspiring antidote to the usual catalogue of tedious milestones towards legal eminence. Constance Briscoe's youth was as different from a typical lawyer's upbringing as it was possible to get. Brought up poor and loveless in south London by a mother who disliked and abused her, physically and emotionally, and a stepfather who abused her too, she went to schools that failed to recognise her intelligence and abilities. As if that wasn't enough, she was seen by all around her, and regarded herself as - in the title of her autobiography - Ugly ... She is now a highly regarded barrister and was among the first black women to become a recorder, a part-time judge. She's also managed - a rare feat for a lawyer - to write an absorbing book in language untainted by convoluted legal-speak.'
The Guardian

'Compelling autobiography Ugly by Constance Briscoe. One of Britain's first black woman judges tells of her own miserable childhood. Rejected by her mother at the age of 11, Constance applied to be taken into care. Sent home, she endured two more years of emotional abuse until her mother left her. Disturbingly honest.'

Woman and Home

Constance Briscoe IS without a doubt the

Talk of The Town

Stimulating Debate

A Packed Toynbee Hall listen to Constance Briscoe

28 April - Constance Briscoe : Judgement Day - SOLD OUT.

26 May - Football & Comedy Night

7 June - The Trouble With Men : Men Speaking The Unspeakable

28 June - The Trouble With L.O.V.E. Part III

"Booking tickets online is easy and straightforward. 'Paypal' is a secure site with a security code for each user. I purchased four tickets and am interested in attending some of the other debates this summer. Ugly was excellent, very moving and I look forward to meeting Ms. Briscoe on Friday and I'll bring my copy to be signed by her."

Jennifer, London, 23 April 2006

N.B. All who book on-line must bring along their e-ticket receipts with it's unique code as their proof of purchase and guarantee of entry.

Talk of The Town's CEO appeared on BBC 3 Counties Radio on 20th April and BBC Radio London, 23 April. Also on both shows was Floella Benjamin OBE who successfully completed the London Marathon in aid of Barnardos.

"Tiemo sounded good on Radio London. It was good that you mentioned the website as I wrote down the number wrongly. You made an interesting point re the typical W.I. parents/upbringing, though it's a little debatable, as it's not how we all were treated, though I understood the point you were making."

Paulina, London, 23 April 2006

This event will be filmed for possible DVD-Video release and broadcast. By either purchasing a ticket and/or entering the venue you agree to be filmed for this purpose.