Hello, and thank you for visiting my site. I hope that you'll return often and always find something of interest about my world and what inspires me to pick up a pen. (This is a figure of speech, unfortunately. My handwriting is terrible!) Here's what I've been up to recently...
Alcatraz revisited
A conversation last autumn sparked off a memory from a few years back and I decided to write it up for the Reader’s Digest. It’s in the February 2023 issue and, by a strange coincidence, so is a letter I wrote in response to a travel article about Arctic exploration.
Thwarted by the Covid 19 outbreak in 2020, it’s been good to reminisce over happier times and look forward to the next big adventure.
18 January, 2023 - Make the first comment on this story
2023 is here!
Mais où sont les neiges d’antan? asked 15th century poet François Villon. Well, my resolutions have often melted away before Twelfth Night, but this year I’m determined to hold onto one. No longer drowning in nostalgia for the snows of yesteryear or anything else that occurred before this morning, I shall be making a point of looking forward rather than back.
A very Happy New Year to all my readers!
1 January, 2023 - Make the first comment on this story
Write-On Ripon!’s Christmas party
The advantages of belonging to more than one writers’ group are clear to me all year round. More like-minded people to bounce ideas off and more inspiration to be gained are just two of them. There’s some overlap between ‘my’ Ripon groups, but they do have very distinct personalities and last night was my second writers’ Christmas do of 2022. With no formal structure and, as yet at least, no website (although we do have a Facebook page), WOR gatherings can vary in size from two or three to sometimes four times that number, with people dropping in and out as it suits them.
The party was a lot of fun with a few seasonal readings, a movie quiz, some very lighthearted games and, of course, refreshments. As ever, we were very grateful to the Curzon cinema for allowing us the use of their lounge and we look forward to resuming our usual Tuesday afternoon meetings and monthly open mic events in 2023.
21 December, 2022 - Make the first comment on this story
RWG’s pre-Christmas event
This being the 40th anniversary year of Ripon Writers’ Group, we were particularly pleased to welcome back Kathleen, now an honorary member, who has been in the Group almost from the start. She’s never been one to put herself forward, but you can just spot her third from the left with other long-term members.
In addition to memories of times past for RWG and a variety of Christmas readings, we had a challenging quiz,
the presentation of the President’s Cup by Joe – whose late wife Daphne founded the Group –
a Secret Santa and a substantial buffet.
I think it’s fair to say that a good time was had by all.
7 December, 2022 - Make the first comment on this story
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
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