Camilla Carr: surviving a kidnapping in Chechnya

As heard on Radio 4 Book of the Week: “The Sky Is Always There”

Sunday 27th July 2008 at The Longmynd Hotel, Church Stretton.
Coffee from 10.30 a.m., talk starts at 11.00 followed by Questions & Answers, and a book signing by Camilla (and possibly Jon).

Tickets £3.50* from Burway Books. telephone 01694 723388

In 1997 Camilla Carr and her partner, Jon James, went to Chechnya to help run the Little Star rehabilitation centre for war-traumatised children in Grozny. Their story made national and international news when they were kidnapped at gunpoint and held hostage for 14 months, during which time they suffered rape, mental torture and the threat of execution. Despite this they felt compassion and understanding for their captors, and used the power of prayer together with techniques learned from yoga, tai chi, reiki and meditation to help them survive.

Ten years after their release they have written a book about their ordeal and the subsequent effect it had on their lives, both mental and physical. Their story is a testament to the power of forgiveness and unconditional love.

Camilla spent many of her formative years in Shropshire, where she attended Shrewsbury High School. She was a keen dance student of the late Diana Griffiths, and to this day uses the power of dance and drama to help children communicate and overcome difficulties.

*The Longmynd Hotel are kindly providing the venue free of charge for this event, and Burway Books will donate a minimum of £1.00 from each ticket sold to a charity of Camilla’s choice that helps the war-traumatised street children in Chechnya.