Journalist honoured by club

HONOURED: Bernard Diederich with Peter Isaac (left) and Sarah and Mark Green. PHOTO/LYNDA FERINGA.

When Bernard Diederich's book Seeds of Fiction was hot off the press he immediately sent a copy to a man he knows well and who "loves to read".

That man was Fidel Castro, Cuba's revolutionary former president and recognised political survivor extraordinaire.

Castro - who at 87 is the same age as Diederich - is just one of a long list of world figures the veteran writer has got to know in a long and adventurous life.

He was in Martinborough yesterday to be honoured by the National Press Club at a special function in the Martinborough Hotel, being the star guest at the hotel's inaugural Literary Luncheon.

The press club bestowed a lifetime achievement award on Diederich recognising his service as New Zealand's longest practising journalist, which included a stint as Time-Life bureau chief, and author of many books.

Diederich was born in Makara but has lived overseas for most of his life being a resident of Miami but with a passion for Haiti in the Caribbean.

He also has a special fondness for Wairarapa as family members live here, and he visits as often as he can.

Seeds of Fiction is based on Diederich's close friendship with the famed author, the late Graham Greene.

The owners of the Martinborough Hotel Sarah and Mark Green, and business partner Murray Cole, decided to launch a programme of literary luncheons starting off with Diederich as the first special guest.

About 60 people were to attend yesterday's lunch being treated to bubbles or beer on arrival followed by bread and oils, a salmon fillet or chicken with a Greek salad and dessert, and wine.

Mrs Green said it is planned to hold four or five literary luncheons a year and she hoped to secure special guests of the calibre of Lloyd Jones or maybe even Australian journalist and author Peter Fitzsimons.

Jones is a celebrated fiction writer and author of Mister Pip which won the Commonwealth Writer's Prize and was shortlisted for the Booker.

He owns a home in Martinborough.

Mrs Green said another idea which the hotel is entertaining is to start a Word Night where people who are interested in words, their meaning and origins can gather.