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...

National Poetry Day 2026

Poetry is something in which I occasionally dabble and here I am about to perform at an open mic event in Ripon. It was held on Thursday, 1st October in my favourite haunt, the Claro Lounge, where the Write-On Ripon! group meets each week. Earlier in the day, Lotte, Caroline, Nicky and I were among a host of poets who joined in readings at The Ripon Workhouse Museum and Ripon Cathedral.

At the first event, I read Noblesse Oblige, inspired by the death in WW1 of David Robert Davidson, the great-uncle in whose memory I wrote my novel Workhouse Orphan. Later on, more lighthearted fare seemed appropriate.

I am indebted to the indefatigable Tim Flanagan of the Rejoicing in Ripon blog for the photograph. He does more than anyone else I know to keep everyone informed about what is going on in our little city. Thank you, Tim!

7 October, 2026 - Make the first comment on this story

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