DIARY

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(Due to Covid-19, some events planned for 2021 have been postponed or cancelled)
June
10th   Virtual School Visit delivering my ‘Lest We Forget’ Workshop performing war poems to Year 5 and 6 pupils – Ellison Primary Academy, Wolstanton, Newcastle-under-Lyme.
25th   Virtual School Visit delivering my ‘Guess the Animal’ Workshop performing animal stories and poems to Years 1 and 2 – Ellison Primary Academy, Wolstanton, Newcastle-under-Lyme.
TBC   Publication of ‘Lest We Forget’ – A collection of war poems covering many different aspects of war.  The second in the Conflict Poetry book series.  Covering WW1, WW2, more recent conflicts and the role both men and women have played.
     
July/August
TBC   Publication of ‘I Don’t Want to Go to Bed’ – A fun and humorous collection of poems about bedtime.  The first in the ‘I Don’t Want To’ children’s poetry book series. Avoiding going to bed, story time, teddies, sleepovers, not wanting to get up and lots more.  For anyone who dislikes bedtime (both children and parents alike).
     

 

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May
14th   Book Signing at the ‘Tales on Trent’ Author Signing Event – Best Western City Centre Hotel, Trinity Street, Stoke-on-Trent, ST1 5NB (10.30 am – 4.30 pm).
     

P A S T   E V E N T S

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(Due to Covid-19, numerous events planned for 2020 were postponed or cancelled)
March
5th   School Visit for World Book Day delivering my ‘I Don’t Want to Go to School’ Workshop to EYFS, KS1 & KS2 pupils during assembly – along with fellow Resident Author Glenn Martin James – Ellison Primary Academy, Wolstanton, Newcastle-under-Lyme.
     
October
1st   Virtual School Visit for National Poetry Day delivering my ‘I Don’t Want to Go to Bed’ Workshop to KS1 & KS2 pupils during their online assembly – Ellison Primary Academy, Wolstanton, Newcastle-under-Lyme.
     
November
7th   Stoke CEP Saturday, Inspiring Creative Education’ online event – Participating artist at this event for all teachers and educators (9.30 am – 4.30 pm).

 

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February
     
28th   Year 6 Careers Fair – Stallholder at this Careers Fair for Year 6 pupils, talking to the pupils about my profession – Clarice Cliff Primary School, Fenton, Stoke-on-Trent.
     
March
4th   School Visit for World Book Day delivering my ‘Poetry Can Be About Anything’ Workshop to EYFS, KS1 & KS2 pupils during assembly – Springcroft Primary School, Blythe Bridge.
7th   School Visit for World Book Day delivering my ‘Guess the Animal’ Workshop for Nursery/Reception pupils, my ‘Poetry Can Be About Anything’ Workshop for Year 1, 2, 3 & 4 pupils and my ‘Titanic’ Workshop for Year 5 & 6 pupils – Silverdale Primary Academy, Newcastle-under-Lyme.
26th   Youth Group Poetry Workshop delivering my ‘Poetry Can Be About Anything” Workshop to Friends for Leisure’s Crewe Youth Group (13-21-year-olds with special educational needs) – All Saints Church, Stewart Street, Crewe, CW2 8LX (6.30 – 8.00 pm).
     
April
21st   Publication of ‘Conflict’ as an e-book – my debut poetry collection that tackles hard-hitting issues facing individuals and society as a whole. Covering both internal and external conflicts.  For older readers (teenagers & adults).
27th   Publication of ‘Conflict’ as a paperback (as above).
     
May
4th   Book Signing at the ‘Book Babes in Stoke’ Author Signing Event – The Moat House Hotel, Etruria Hall, Festival Way, Stoke-on-Trent, ST1 5BQ (9.30 am – 4.30 pm).
     
June
1st  

Queen Victoria’s 200th Birthday Celebration – An education trail involving famous Victorians (some with a local link), a display of Martian War Machines (built by Glenn Martin James) in celebration of the local connection to famous Sci-Fi author HG Wells. And a display of Victorian Toys for children to learn about, play with and then make their own – The Guildhall, Newcastle-under-Lyme Town Centre (11.00 – 3.00 pm).

Fellow author Glenn Martin James and I co-planned and delivered this event along with Newcastle-under-Lyme BID.
12th   School Visit delivering my ‘Guess the Animal’ Workshop performing animal stories and poems to Year 1 pupils – Ellison Primary Academy, Wolstanton, Newcastle-under-Lyme.
24th   Judging of Public Speaking Competition of KS2 finals – Ellison Primary Academy, Wolstanton, Newcastle-under-Lyme.
29th  

Homecoming Celebration – Martian War Machines and Victorian Toys appeared in Newcastle for a second time, at the Homecoming celebration (on the back of the success of their first appearance on the 1st June)  – The Guildhall, Newcastle-under-Lyme Town Centre (11.00 – 3.00 pm). 

Fellow author Glenn Martin James and I were delighted to be asked to repeat the display/event.
     
July
1st   Judging of Public Speaking Competition of EYFS/KS1 finals – Ellison Primary Academy, Wolstanton, Newcastle-under-Lyme.
9th   School Visit delivering my ‘Conflict’ Workshop performing conflict poetry from my book ‘Conflict’ to Year 6 pupils – Ellison Primary Academy, Wolstanton, Newcastle-under-Lyme.
     
September
21st   Mock Mayor Performance – A recreation of the old mock making ceremony – The Market Cross, Newcastle-under-Lyme Town Centre (12.00 – 12.30 pm).
     
October
24th   3rd Annual Stoke CEP Cultural Arts Networking Event – Stallholder at this event for all teachers and educators – Staffordshire University, Henrion Gallery, College Road, Stoke-on-Trent, ST4 2DE (3.00 – 6.00 pm).
31st   ‘Spooky Spectacular’ Children’s Halloween Workshop performing spooky stories and poems (mainly from my ‘The Abandoned House’ Workshop) – along with fellow author & illustrator Glenn Martin James – Artisan Tap, 552 Hartshill Road, Hartshill, Stoke-on-Trent, ST4 6AF (6.00 – 7.30 pm).
     
November
16th   Newcastle-under-Lyme Christmas Lights Switch On – performing stories and poems as ‘Roaming Victorian Storytellers’ during this popular event for the 4th year running – along with fellow author & illustrator Glenn Martin James – Newcastle-under-Lyme Town Centre.
     

 

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January
24th   Performance of poems with fellow author & illustrator Glenn Martin James – as ‘Roaming Poets’ at The (Un)Official Tour of Stoke event – Stoke-on-Trent (Meeting outside the Glebe pub, Stoke – 12 pm till 12.45pm & 1 pm till 1.45 pm).
     
March
29th   School Visit for World Book Day performing a selection of poems/stories (mainly from my ‘I Don’t Want to Go to School’ Workshop) to KS1 & KS2 during assemblies – along with fellow Resident Author Glenn Martin James (postponed from World Book Day, 1st March due to snow) – Ellison Primary Academy, Wolstanton, Newcastle-under-Lyme.
     
May
14th   School Visit performing poems on the ‘Rainforest’ to Year 4 pupils – Ellison Primary Academy, Wolstanton, Newcastle-under-Lyme.
     
June
21st   School Visit delivering my ‘Guess the Animal’ Workshop performing animal stories and poems to Year 1 pupils – Ellison Primary Academy, Wolstanton, Newcastle-under-Lyme.
25th   Judging of Public Speaking Competition of both EYFS/KS1 & KS2 finals – Ellison Primary Academy, Wolstanton, Newcastle-under-Lyme.
     
July    
13th   School Visit delivering my ‘Poetry Can Be About Anything’ Workshop performing a selection of poems to show poetry’s diversity to Year 3 pupils – Ellison Primary Academy, Wolstanton, Newcastle-under-Lyme.
     
September
8th   Re-Launch of the St. Giles Heritage Churchyard Project ‘Heritage Trail and Education Pack’ – St Giles Church, Church St, Newcastle-under-Lyme ST5 1QS (on Heritage Open Day – 11.00 am till 3.00 pm). Fellow author Glenn Martin James and I co-wrote and co-performed the Heritage Trail and co-wrote the ‘Engaging with History’ section of the Education Pack.
October
6th   Kidz of Carerz ‘Sons and Daughters’ Event performing poetry and delivering a creative writing session as part of a unique event for Foster Carers’ own children to celebrate the contribution they make to the Fostering Service and the lives of Children in Care – King Street Studios, Newcastle-under-Lyme.
24th   Cultural Education Conference & Tea Party – Stallholder at this cultural networking event for all teachers and educators – The Potteries Museum & Art Gallery, Bethesda Street, Stoke-on-Trent, ST1 3DW (4.00 – 7.00 pm).
29th   ‘Guess the Animal’ Children’s Half-Term Workshop delivering my ‘Guess the Animal’ Workshop performing animal stories and poems – The Brampton Museum, Brampton Park, Newcastle-under-Lyme, ST5 0QP (10.15 – 11.15 am).
31st   ‘Spooky Spectacular’ Children’s Halloween Workshop performing spooky stories and poems (mainly from my ‘The Abandoned House’ Workshop) – along with fellow author & illustrator Glenn Martin James – Artisan Tap, 552 Hartshill Road, Hartshill, Stoke-on-Trent, ST4 6AF (6.00 – 7.00 pm).
     
November
17th   Newcastle-under-Lyme Christmas Lights Switch On – performing stories and poems as ‘Roaming Victorian Storytellers’ during this popular event for the 3rd year running – along with fellow author & illustrator Glenn Martin James – Newcastle-under-Lyme Town Centre (12.00 – 5.30 pm).
     
December
7th   School Visit delivering my ‘Lest We Forget’ Workshop performing war poems to Year 5 pupils – Ellison Primary Academy, Wolstanton, Newcastle-under-Lyme.