This year marks at least two significant anniversaries, the death of William Shakespeare 400 years ago and the birth of Roald Dahl 100 years ago. These events are being celebrated nationwide and here in Rochdale we also want to mark the moment. Shakespeare is thought to have been born on 23rd September, though many sources state that this is uncertain. What is known is that he died on that date, so if we have his birth date right he is one of that rare breed that was born and died on the same day of the year.
Plans for both celebrations are well under way here. Roald Dahl will be celebrated in the Summer Reading Challenge, this year called The Big Friendly Read. Children who take part read six books, they do not have to be written by Roald Dahl, any book counts and here in Rochdale that includes the Ebooks we have available. The Dahl theme will carry on to this year's Rochdale Literature and Ideas Festival, where the children and families events will be under the umbrella title of The Big Friendly Festival.
Shakespeare celebrations have already taken place, with more marked for April 23rd and a week in May, so watch this space.
Wednesday, 6 April 2016
Thursday, 24 March 2016
We Are Swailing
As I crossed the Pennines above Littleborough this morning the mist hung in the air like the steam from a pot of lapsang souchong tea. There was the aroma of smoke in the air and when I dropped down Blackstone Edge I could see the moors alight below me.
Now, this is the season for swailing the moors, burning off the old dry, dead grass to encourage new growth. However, with no human being in attendance I suspected that it was a discarded cigarette that had caused the fire. One particular corner was well alight with nobody about with flails to put it out.
Which took me back to the last two years, around Easter time, when I had seen three black men, in gleaming white robes, walking down the very same road above the moors. It was around Easter and I know a wooden cross is erected in the hills here, so was it a Christian sect performing their Easter rites, or druids? I have never found out, but the combination of shadowy figures in flowing white robes and uncontained fire is a great start for a story!
Now, this is the season for swailing the moors, burning off the old dry, dead grass to encourage new growth. However, with no human being in attendance I suspected that it was a discarded cigarette that had caused the fire. One particular corner was well alight with nobody about with flails to put it out.
Which took me back to the last two years, around Easter time, when I had seen three black men, in gleaming white robes, walking down the very same road above the moors. It was around Easter and I know a wooden cross is erected in the hills here, so was it a Christian sect performing their Easter rites, or druids? I have never found out, but the combination of shadowy figures in flowing white robes and uncontained fire is a great start for a story!
Wednesday, 23 March 2016
2016, A Spaced Oddity
“It is a truth universally acknowledged, that a married man in possession of a good blog, must be willing to update it.”
I've not been blogging but I have been working hard, is the amount of blog proportional to the amount of work that you are committed to?
The longest project that I have been involved with in many a year is coming to it's climax soon. Steve Cooke, the man behind All Across the Arts here in Rochdale, is responsible for getting us all together. Along with a talented bunch of poets, artists, photographers, songwriters and storytellers (why they wanted me on board I shall never know) I have been working with a group comprising asylum seekers children, young adults with mental health problems and looked after young adults. The project is called "The Stories We Could Tell" and the great thing is, they are telling their stories.
Many strike deep in the heart, they can make you feel angry or sad, or both at the same time. The good thing is that in each story, in each individual, there is hope. Sometimes that glimmer of hope is smaller than I might want it to be but it survives, as do these young people. In the eight weeks of the project we have laughed and cried, and that's just the facilitators.
We are almost at the moment where those who want to will tell their stories to an invited audience. They can present their story live if they want to, or by film. I can't wait to see the finished work. I don't think there will be a dry eye in the house.
we are all hoping that this will be the first of many more projects like this, so watch this space!
I've not been blogging but I have been working hard, is the amount of blog proportional to the amount of work that you are committed to?
The longest project that I have been involved with in many a year is coming to it's climax soon. Steve Cooke, the man behind All Across the Arts here in Rochdale, is responsible for getting us all together. Along with a talented bunch of poets, artists, photographers, songwriters and storytellers (why they wanted me on board I shall never know) I have been working with a group comprising asylum seekers children, young adults with mental health problems and looked after young adults. The project is called "The Stories We Could Tell" and the great thing is, they are telling their stories.
Many strike deep in the heart, they can make you feel angry or sad, or both at the same time. The good thing is that in each story, in each individual, there is hope. Sometimes that glimmer of hope is smaller than I might want it to be but it survives, as do these young people. In the eight weeks of the project we have laughed and cried, and that's just the facilitators.
We are almost at the moment where those who want to will tell their stories to an invited audience. They can present their story live if they want to, or by film. I can't wait to see the finished work. I don't think there will be a dry eye in the house.
we are all hoping that this will be the first of many more projects like this, so watch this space!
Tuesday, 22 December 2015
Quick Catch Up
I've been doing a lot of sessions connected to the opening of the River Roch in Rochdale, facilitating creative writing in the form of poetry with Key Stage One and Two children from schools round the borough at Touchstones, Rochdale. The stuffed animals with their sounds available at the touch of a button has helped.
Forgotten - but not gone!
I can't believe I've ignored my blog for so long,
Last week I was at Bowlee Primary, Langley, in the borough of Rochdale for some Festive Poetry Fun with year four.
Each of the three year four groups wrote a Kenning, with children working in pairs. The riddle form of the poem suits itself well to Christmas presents - can you guess what the present is? As the groups had been working hard on simile and metaphor we also wrote a class poem on either - a donkey; Rudolf or Santa.
My long-ago-learned Native American chant "Fly like an eagle" seemed to fit - as it contains both simile and metaphor
Fly like an eagle
Fly so high
All around the universe
On wings of pure light
Last week I was at Bowlee Primary, Langley, in the borough of Rochdale for some Festive Poetry Fun with year four.
Each of the three year four groups wrote a Kenning, with children working in pairs. The riddle form of the poem suits itself well to Christmas presents - can you guess what the present is? As the groups had been working hard on simile and metaphor we also wrote a class poem on either - a donkey; Rudolf or Santa.
My long-ago-learned Native American chant "Fly like an eagle" seemed to fit - as it contains both simile and metaphor
Fly like an eagle
Fly so high
All around the universe
On wings of pure light
Tuesday, 7 July 2015
I'm back!
Well, I've moved my base and ignored blogging for too long. Now I work out of Heywood Library, the attic.
Just to say I'm back. Class visits this week brought out a top comment from an excited year one from Heybrook School.
"When I come to the library I look at every single book, but Not all of them!"
Just to say I'm back. Class visits this week brought out a top comment from an excited year one from Heybrook School.
"When I come to the library I look at every single book, but Not all of them!"
Monday, 11 November 2013
Heywood Fire Station Spooktacular
I had a great time at the fire station - and Ian Tracey sent me this afterwards
Good Morning Ray.
I would just like to take this opportunity to express my sincere
thanks in dedicating your time to support the first Heywood Spooktacular Event.
As you know we hosted well over 1000 community guests of which I
know you entertained a significant number with your stories. It would be very
remiss of me not to let you know that I have had so much positive feedback
about
Story Time; despite the station being overwhelmed with guests to such a point we
had to turn people away.
There are children within the community who may never explore
the wonderful imaginative world that lies within a book, so for them to be
exposed to a story teller who can bring a story to life is a great opportunity.
An opportunity that is far removed from X-Boxes and Play-Stations. May be I am
just from the Jackanory era?
Ian Tracey LLB (Hons), M I Fire E, Station Commander, E32 Heywood Fire Station
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