Maggie Cobbett

Spreading the Word!

I always enjoy giving talks about different aspects of my work and especially when invited by somewhere I value as highly as our very own Ripon Library.  It was a bonus that its excellent Outreach Librarian, Claire Thompson, was able to relieve me of the burden of taking along my own laptop, projector and extension cable. My techie son Richard sent her the whole presentation by some electronic means I still don’t fully understand and it was all set up for me when I arrived. Claire also took charge of moving the images forward whenever required, so all I had to do was talk about them. Brilliant!

Emmerdale fans will recognise the lovely Natalie J. Robb aka Moira Dingle in the foreground of the screenshot. As on many other occasions, I was playing the part of a Woolpack regular, and comfortably seated in the bar in the company of my former (professional) partner Charlie. What were we discussing so earnestly? Well, it could have been anything, but quite possibly we were playing a word game of some kind, as we used to do before the microphones became so sensitive that we were only allowed to mime.

There was so much to say about it all that I overran my time, but no one in the friendly audience seemed to mind and I was very happy to sign a few books afterwards. As one buyer told me, being cheap, cheerful and flexible, they’ll make great stocking fillers!

26 November, 2022 - Make the first comment on this story

40th Anniversary of Ripon Writers’ Group

Exactly 40 years since the late and still very much missed Daphne Peters founded the Group, there was a celebration dinner for members and guests at the Royal Oak.

Not everyone was able to attend last night, but celebrations will continue on 6th December at our pre-Christmas event. Watch this space!

23 November, 2022 - Make the first comment on this story

It’s beginning to feel a lot like Christmas!

In a traditional magazine crammed with festive stories…

…I’m very proud to say that one of them is mine. It was inspired by memories of a Christmas present that not only gave me great pleasure but also the very first opportunity to see some of my writing in print. Thank you, John Bull!

11 November, 2022 - Make the first comment on this story

5th Ripon Poetry Festival

What a packed few days these have been! 

Thursday evening saw me at Ripon Library to take part in the open mic night with which this year’s festival began. Hosted by flamboyant Newcastle poet Donald Jenkins, it was well attended and very entertaining.

On Saturday evening I was at the Arts Hub reading ‘Separate but Equal’, my contribution to this year’s anthology. Inspired by many visits to Fountains Abbey, it reflects the busy life of one of the lay brothers without whose support the monks would have been unable to spend their lives in prayer and copying manuscripts. Also in the photo above are other members of Ripon Writers’ Group and/or Write-On! Ripon.

This afternoon I was at Thorp Prebend for the annual showcase of Ripon Writers’ Group. Our numbers were somewhat depleted by other commitments and illness, but it went well. Caroline (on the left of the photo) joined us from the audience to read one of her poems.

Afterwards, I attended the launch of Bradford poet Jim Greenhalf’s latest collection, ‘Dummy’, and finally the posthumous launch of David McAndrew’s ‘Collected Works’. David was a member of RWG for many years and is still very much missed.

25 September, 2022 - Make the first comment on this story

Ripon hears the Accession Proclamation

I was proud to be among a large crowd of Riponians present in the Market Place on Sunday afternoon. We’d gathered there to hear the Proclamation, read out from the balcony of the Town Hall by Mr Richard Compton, Deputy Lieutenant of North Yorkshire. How poignant it was that the banners hung up to celebrate Her Majesty’s Platinum Jubilee were still in place. 

Afterwards, we sang ‘God Save the King’ for the first time ever for almost everyone present and gave three hearty cheers for Charles III. Vivat Rex!

15 September, 2022 - Make the first comment on this story

A new era

Although it was inevitable, given her great age, that I would see the passing on of the Crown from Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II to her eldest son, I was deeply shocked and saddened by her death this week. In typical fashion, Elizabeth had kept going long enough to bid farewell to Boris Johnson and greet new Prime Minister Liz Truss before dying peacefully at Balmoral. She may not have been too reluctant, especially as her deep Christian faith would have convinced her that Prince Philip would be waiting on the other side. I’m convinced that only duty drove her on after losing him. The sight of her tragic little figure sitting hunched and all alone at his funeral will be forever etched in my memory.

I only saw our late Queen twice in the flesh, both times in Leeds when I was very young. Mum and I were in the crowd when she appeared on the balcony of the Civic Hall and again in University Road. I can’t remember what was going on there – maybe a new building being opened – but I do remember Mum, a tiny and normally gentle little lady, defying a policeman to get us a better view. No photographs, unfortunately. 

Watching our new King on the news reminds me of the time I nearly fell over him at the Great Yorkshire Show. It was my closest encounter ever with a member of the Firm and came about because I was trying to avoid the crowds waiting to greet him in the Prince’s Trust area. I sneaked out of the back of one of the marquees and there he was, escorted by bowler-hatted officials who glowered at me. At least they were armed with nothing more lethal than rolled umbrellas and I wasn’t taken into custody!

It’s going to take some time to become accustomed to a new head on our coins and stamps, as well as hearing ‘God Save the King’ for the first time since 1952. No one can predict the length of his reign or what kind of monarch he will be, but I wish Charles III all the best. Vivat Rex!

(The images are taken from one of my oldest books. ‘Royal Progress’, presented by Shell-Mex and B.P. Limited in Coronation Year 1953. Dad ran a petrol station at that time, so I imagine it must have been given to him and he brought it home to share. Subtitled ‘A Pageant of Royal Travel’, it begins with Henry V’s triumphant return from Agincourt in 1415 and has many glorious colour plates.)

11 September, 2022 - Make the first comment on this story

Swanwick Writers’ Summer School 2022

As a regular delegate since 2006, I’ve written a great deal about the School but still find it hard to explain succinctly exactly what goes on there.  According to fellow Swanwicker Elizabeth Horrocks, it’s rather like an Edwardian house party but with the focus on writing rather than shooting, and I don’t think I can top that. Much new building has gone on since The Hayes was converted from a gentleman’s residence to a conference centre, but many original features have been retained. The main lounge offers a quiet retreat at most times of day, although the staircase is thought by some to be haunted. I’ve never felt anything untoward there myself, but who knows?

On Saturday 13th August, around 200 of us started to gather mid-afternoon. I was very happy to take on an ‘ambassadorial’ role again, welcoming first-timers before dinner and hosting a table. Thereafter, I kept an eye out all week for anyone looking lost or lonely. 

The drought had taken its toll, but the grounds were still lovely and I took myself off for a walk most mornings before breakfast. 

Although the formal gardens are colourful and well kept, I prefer the area around the two small lakes. There are plenty of places to sit and meditate or think up stories. This year, a red balloon trapped by the water lilies caught my attention and a theme started to develop.

One of the joys of Swanwick is not having to sign up in advance for any of the sessions and thus being able to dip in and out at will. I enjoyed all the courses I chose and have a notebook bulging with ideas for long and short fiction, creative non-fiction, self promotion, designing book covers and improving my chances of success in writing competitions.

This year’s prize winners in the poetry, short story and writing for children competitions organised by Writing Magazine had their own slot in the programme and listening to their entries was also very instructive. I was pleased and proud to see fellow Riponian Ian Gouge among them, seen above receiving his trophy from Chair Cathy Grimmer.

Privileged to be included in the Swanwick Success Stories, I am very grateful to all those who bought copies of my various books. The latest, a memoir of my years as a TV/film ‘extra’, had come out just in time for me to take along a few copies to the Book Room. (I’d also signed up to do some shifts there, which was only fair.) 

Our speakers were novelist Erin Kelly, Wolverhampton poets Emma Purshouse and Steve Pottinger and the inimitable writer/performer Rob Gee. All are excellent in their different fields, but Rob Gee was my particular favourite and had me helpless with laughter at his outrageous anecdotes. As ever, there was plenty of other evening entertainment on offer, including quizzes, prose and poetry open mics, Buskers and the five-minute plays, barely rehearsed, performed in Page to Stage. Time keeping is of the essence in some of these activities and Jen Wilson had brought along a special hook to ‘encourage’ participants not to over run. 

The theme for this year’s fancy dress evening and disco was ‘Another Night at the Movies’.  As ever, Swanwickers had pulled out the stops when it came to their outfits and there was much hilarity. I quite enjoyed looking louche and had to keep reminding myself not to smile for the photographs. In any case, I didn’t want to lose my ‘cigarette’.

Thursday saw Prinks (pre-dinner drinks, I was told) on the lawn, followed by the Swanwick Farewell.

All too soon, it was Friday morning and time to leave The Hayes behind. The Writers’ Summer School will rise again though, Brigadoon-like, in August 2023 and I for one certainly intend to be there. 

20 August, 2022 - There are 2 comments on this story

Swanwick 2022

All ready to set off for my favourite week of the year. The Writers’ Summer School 2022 begins at 3.30 this afternoon. 

13 August, 2022 - There is one comment on this story

My ‘Extra’ Life

I’ve often written about my work as a very small cog in the wheel of different productions, but now I’ve brought many of my memories together. Covid 19 put a stop to my participation early in 2020 and, after much soul searching, by the time the studios reopened and started to get back to normal, I’d decided to call it a day. Twenty years isn’t a bad run and there is plenty that I’ll miss, particularly the people I met along the way.  Those who became friends, though, will remain part of my life and I’ll look forward to keeping in touch.

The back cover sums up the essence of the job, supporting artists or SAs being the unsung heroes of television and film productions. It’s hard work sometimes, but a lot of fun is to be had and, for a writer, the experience is invaluable. Why not give it a go? Available from Amazon as a download or paperback, the book will tell you how I got started and some of the pros and cons of having an ‘extra’ life.

9 August, 2022 - There is one comment on this story

Zooming along!

It was a real pleasure yesterday evening to join a session hosted by Harrogate Writers’ Circle. Tutor Della Galton, top right and long known to me from Swanwick (Writers’ Summer School),  thoroughly deserves her reputation as the ‘Queen of Short Story Writing’ and was as entertaining and informative as ever. With other Swanwickers also on screen, it was the closest I’ve been to a proper meet up for far too long. Thank you, HWC, for sending me the invitation.

The two hours passed swiftly and, although the evening was a hot one, I managed to complete the writing exercise Della set us. It was amazing what the others came up with in such a short time (six minutes) and their ‘opening paragraphs’ were many and various. Mine, I confess, was somewhat tongue in cheek, but it gave everyone a laugh.

23 June, 2022 - Make the first comment on this story