Tuesday 16 June 2009

Hooray for Holmewood

It was sunny all round today for the launch of the Holmewood songs and poems written by The Holmewood Team at the Macintyre Centre. A brilliant performance by everyone - even the audience! Thanks to everyone who took part. Here are some pics of the performers starring in the Ten Days of Holmewood, the display being unveiled and most importantly - the cakes!

Monday 15 June 2009

The Magic Attic

It lived up to its name! A dozen of us spent a most enjoyable day using the resources of this amazing local and family history archive as inspiration for writing. A big thank-you to Graham Nutt who's been a volunteer at the Attic for over 20 years, and to Marion and Jackie who assisted on the day. The Attic can be found online here and at Sharpe's Pottery Museum, West St, Swadlincote SE11 9DG. It is a mine of information about South Derbyshire, N.W. Leicestershire and East Staffs, with newspapers dating back to 1782, local family records from 1640, maps and 22,000 photos from 1842 onwards.
(Photo from the Attic's collection:
Gresley Fire Brick clay mine c.1956)

Thursday 4 June 2009

Bibliophiles in Borrowash

On the hottest day of the year, a fine crowd came to the reading at Borrowash Library this week. The librarians had laid on home-made cakes, including butterfly buns! The cakes came a very close second to the poetry on the evaluation forms.

Next week will find me at the Magic Attic, Swadlincote on Wednesday for a writing workshop using the Attic's fantastic family and local history archives. On Friday I'll be at Buxton Library for a workshop as part of National Carers' Week. If you are a carer, come along 10 am - 12 for some positive reflections & gentle writing about your experiences.

It's full steam ahead with the upcoming Celebration of Holmewood on 15th June, when the Holmewood Team from the Macintyre Centre will be helping me to perform five songs and poems they have written celebrating community life.