I spotted an old postcard on ebay 3 years back and snapped it up. It was posted from Royston. From the message on the back it was clear that the writer was really not happy that 1,100 Welsh soldiers would soon be leaving the town. That got me thinking, ‘Why was she so sad? And what were they doing there anyway?’’
Tag: jenni pinnock
Forecast22
I am delighted that Donna Lennard has recorded a haunting version of ‘The Blessing of the Roadborn Child’ (one of the Cracked Voices songs written by Jenni Pinnock and myself) as part of her contribution to Chelmsford City Museum’s online exhibition celebrating 100 years of public radio broadcasting. To find out more visit: Forecast22 at… Continue reading Forecast22
‘Human Vermin’
On Thursday 1 December 1904, five refugee families made landfall next to the Tower of London. Displaced, they were escaping from harsh new laws that the German government was enacting against travellers (a process that soon saw all gipsies fingerprinted and eventually led to Hitler’s death camps). Some in Britain were welcoming, but most were… Continue reading ‘Human Vermin’
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
The Hertfordshire Hermit and the Solar Farm
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
In Black and White | Roger Britten | Royston’s Printer
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
Finding your voice
It is said that every poet should find their own voice. But perhaps not every poet should use it – or not in public, at least. Reading your work in to an audience is not the same thing as reading it at home. No matter how good the words are, someone needs to breathe life… Continue reading Finding your voice