Learning to be human

Why (and what) do I read? It’s a very good question. I was chuffed recently to be asked to contribute some thoughts to Chris Lee’s Bookworms blog about why I love reading. It was good to torture my braincells into remembering what I actually read when I was a child, and how my reading habits… Continue reading Learning to be human

#bitesizeroyston

From February 2022 to February 2023 I tweeted a factoid about Royston’s history every day. From the town’s links to ‘The Greatest Showman’ film to the prehistory of Therfield Heath. Interested? Visit Twitter and search for the hashtag #bitesizeroyston

The Hertfordshire Hermit and the Solar Farm

(Image: RNA Energy)

A new solar farm that is set to make a significant contribution to North Hertfordshire’s ambition to be net zero by 2040 is going to be sited on or next to the site of the Hertfordshire Hermit’s former home. James Lucas was a Victorian celebrity who lived an unusual life. Here is a piece I… Continue reading The Hertfordshire Hermit and the Solar Farm

Cracked voices, uncracked

In recent months, it’s been a delight to hear two songs from Jenni Pinnock’s and my Cracked Voices (2017) being given a fresh airing (links below). In Scottsdale Arizona (USA), Michael Tallino and Riley McKinch chose ‘Earthrise’ as part of their Songs of Peace for a Wild World concert (part of the Arts at Nativity… Continue reading Cracked voices, uncracked

Surviving the pandemic…

In his report the Medical Officer recommends ‘the immediate breaking up of all the schools at Royston, at Foxton, and at Thriplow.’ It starts with a sore throat, headache, fever, nausea and vomiting. Within a day a rash develops on the stomach or chest and spreads over the whole body. The cheeks of infected children… Continue reading Surviving the pandemic…

Finding Roger Britten…

Proceeding up-stairs we came first against a printing press, with which an intelligent looking African was printing off copies of a handbill… Herts Guardian, Agricultural Journal, and General Advertiser Saturday 17 May 1856 I was not looking for Roger, but those words in an article about a small-town exhibition had me hooked. – Why was… Continue reading Finding Roger Britten…

In Black and White | Roger Britten | Royston’s Printer

Columbian Printing Press similar to the one Roger Britten operated

I’m excited to be able to share details of a project that I have been collaborating on with the composer Jenni Pinnock and artist Stacey Leigh Ross for Black History month (October). Some time ago – while looking for something else – I came across reference to Roger Britten is an old newspaper. He was… Continue reading In Black and White | Roger Britten | Royston’s Printer

Cracked Voices pamphlet

ISBN 978-0-9524753-2-3 48pp One Tree Publishing (UK)

ISBN 978-0-9524753-2-3 48pp One Tree Publishing (UK) The Cracked Voices 48 page pamphlet featuring the stories and poems from the lost borderlands of Hertfordshire and Cambridgeshire is now on sale. Proceeds will go to help with the restoration of Royston Parish Church which was badly damaged by fire in December 2018. The pamphlet is available… Continue reading Cracked Voices pamphlet

National Writing Day 2018

27 June 2018 is National Writing Day. Thanks to Creative Royston, I am delighted to be leading workshops over two consecutive mornings on 26 & 27 June with students from Greneway and Roysia Schools. We’ll be exploring non-fiction writing in the run up to Creative Royston’s writing competition.

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