EVENTS
2 0 2 5 | ||
February | ||
3rd | School Visit for National Storytelling Week at Coquet Park First School, Whitley Bay, North Tyneside – delivering various workshops to Nursery, Reception, Year 1 to Year 4. | |
7th | School Visit for National Storytelling Week at Witton Middle School, Droitwich Spa, Worcestershire – delivering ‘The Abandoned House’ workshop to Years 5, 6 & 7. | |
March | ||
6th | School Visit for World Book Day at Christ Church C.E. First School, Stone, Staffordshire – delivering various workshops to Reception, Year 1 to Year 4. | |
7th | School Visit for World Book Day at St. Margaret’s CE Primary School, Manchester – delivering various workshops to KS1 and KS2. | |
June | ||
7th | Book Signing at Leek Book Festival – Moorlands House, Stockwell Street, Leek ST13 6HQ. | |
P A S T E V E N T S
2 0 2 4 | ||
March | ||
4th | School Visit for World Book Day at The Bliss Charity School, Northamptonshire – delivering my ‘I Don’t Want To’ workshop to Reception, KS1 & KS2. | |
5th | School Visit for World Book Day at Marlpool Junior School, Derbyshire – delivering my ‘Titanic’ workshop to KS2. | |
6th | School Visit for World Book Day at Our Lady’s Catholic Academy, Stoke-on-Trent – delivering my ‘Guess the Animal’ workshop to Nursery & Reception, ‘Poetry Can Be About Anything’ workshop to Year 1 & 2, ‘Titanic’ workshop to Year 3 & 4, and ‘The Abandoned House’ workshop to Year 5 & 6. | |
7th | School Visit for World Book Day at Burnt Tree Primary School, Oldbury, West Midlands – delivering my ‘Guess the Animal’ workshop for Nursery, Reception, Year 1 & Year 2, ‘Poetry Can Be About Anything’ workshop for Year 3 & 4 and ‘The Abandoned House’ workshop for Year 5 & 6. | |
8th | Virtual School Visit for World Book Day at Manor Road Primary School, Lancashire – delivering my ‘Poetry Can Be About Anything’ workshop to Reception, KS1 & KS2. | |
21st | Online Poetry Workshop for World Poetry Day at various schools – delivering my ‘Poetry Can Be About Anything’ workshop to Nursery, Reception, Year 1 & Year 2 (9.30 am – 10.30 am). | |
21st | Online Poetry Workshop for World Poetry Day at various schools – delivering my ‘Poetry Can Be About Anything’ workshop to Year 2 to Year 6 (11.00 am – 12.00 pm). | |
21st | Virtual School Visit for World Poetry Day at Unsworth Academy, Bury, Lancashire – delivering my ‘Poetry Can Be About Anything’ workshop to Year 7. | |
May | ||
14th | Author Visit for a Teddy Bears Picnic event (during Dementia Week) at The Chase Care Home, Huntingdon, Cambridgeshire – delivering my ‘Guess the Animal’ workshop to visiting children from a local nursery and my ‘Conflict’ poetry workshop to the residents. | |
20th | Virtual School Visit for a Pizza & Poetry event at Furley Park Primary Academy, Ashford, Kent – delivering my ‘I Don’t Want To’ workshop to Year 4 to Year 6. | |
June | ||
5th & 6th | School Visit at Hanley St Luke’s C of E Academy, Stoke-on-Trent – delivering my ‘Guess the Animal’ workshop for Reception, Year 1 & Year 2, ‘The Abandoned House’ workshop for Year 3 & 4 and ‘I Want to be an Engineer’ workshop for Year 5 & 6. | |
26th | School Visit at Ellison Primary Academy, Wolstanton, Newcastle-under-Lyme – delivering my ‘Lest We Forget’ workshop performing war poems to Year 5. | |
27th | School Visit at Ellison Primary Academy, Wolstanton, Newcastle-under-Lyme – delivering my ‘Guess the Animal’ workshop performing animal stories and poems to Year 1. | |
July | ||
1st | School Visit at West Craven High School, Barnoldswick, Lancashire – delivering my ‘Conflict’ workshop to Year 9. | |
9th | School Visit at Ellison Primary Academy, Wolstanton, Newcastle-under-Lyme – delivering my ‘Guess the Animal’ workshop performing animal stories and poems to Reception. | |
September | ||
30th | School Visit for National Poetry Day at Cherry Orchard Primary School, Worcester – delivering my ‘Guess the Animal’ workshop to Pre-School & Reception, ‘I Don’t Want To’ workshop to Year 1 & Year 2, ‘Poetry Can Be About Anything’ workshop for Year 3 & 4 and ‘Damaged Earth’ workshop to Year 5 & 6. | |
October | ||
2nd | School Visit for National Poetry Day at Donisthorpe Primary School, Derbyshire – delivering my ‘Poetry Can Be About Anything’ workshop to Year 1 & 2 and ‘Damaged Earth’ workshop to Year 3, 4, 5 & 6. | |
3rd | School Visit for National Poetry Day at Longridge School (Special Educational Needs School), Penkridge, Staffordshire – delivering my ‘Guess the Animal’ workshop, ‘Poetry Can Be About Anything’ workshop and ‘Lest We Forget’ workshop. | |
4th | Virtual School Visit at Hilden Park School (Special Educational Needs School), Tonbridge, Kent – delivering my ‘Poetry Can Be About Anything’ workshop. | |
4th | School Visit for National Poetry Day at Ellison Primary Academy, Wolstanton, Newcastle-under-Lyme – delivering my ‘Poetry Can Be About Anything’ workshop for KS1 & KS2 during their assemblies. | |
15th | Virtual School Visit at Sticklepath Community Primary Academy, Devon – delivering my ‘Lest We Forget’ workshop to Year 4 & 5. | |
26th | Spooktacular Event – performing spooky stories and poems as ‘Strolling Victorian Storytellers’ – along with fellow author & illustrator Glenn Martin James – Hanley Town Centre, Stoke-on-Trent (11.00 am – 3.00 pm). | |
November | ||
5th | School Visit at Walton High School, Stafford – delivering my ‘Lest We Forget’ workshop to Year 7. | |
6th | Virtual School Visit at Dubmire Primary Academy, Tyne and Wear – delivering my ‘Lest We Forget’ workshop to KS2. | |
23rd | Santa’s Arrival Parade & Welcome to Christmas Event – performing stories and poems as ‘Victorian Storytellers’ – along with fellow author & illustrator Glenn Martin James – Hanley Town Centre, Stoke-on-Trent (12.00 pm – 4.00 pm). | |
30th | Santa Experience Event – performing a Christmas story as ‘Mrs Claus’ – Alderford Lake (Santa’s Islands), Tilstock Road, Whitchurch, Shropshire, SY13 3JQ (11.00 am – 3.30 pm). | |
December | ||
7th, 14th, 21st, 22nd & 23rd | Santa Experience Event – performing a Christmas story as ‘Mrs Claus’ – Alderford Lake (Santa’s Islands), Tilstock Road, Whitchurch, Shropshire, SY13 3JQ (11.00 am – 3.30 pm). | |
2 0 2 3 | ||
February | ||
27th | School Visit for World Book Day at Maple Court Academy, Stoke-on-Trent – delivering my ‘I Don’t Want To’ workshop to Reception, KS1 & KS2. | |
28th | School Visit for World Book Day at St Peters Catholic Primary School, Stoke-on-Trent – delivering my ‘Poetry Can Be About Anything’ workshop to Reception, KS1 & KS2. | |
March | ||
1st | Virtual School Visit for World Book Day at Widey Court Primary School, Plymouth – delivering my ‘Poetry Can Be About Anything’ workshop to Reception, KS1 & KS2. | |
2nd | School Visit for World Book Day at Newbold Verdon Primary School, Leicester – delivering my ‘Poetry Can Be About Anything’ workshop to Nursery, Reception, KS1 & KS2. | |
3rd | School Visit for World Book Day at Ellison Primary Academy, Wolstanton, Newcastle-under-Lyme – delivering my ‘I Don’t Want To’ workshop to Reception, KS1 & KS2 during assembly – along with fellow Resident Author Glenn Martin James. | |
June | ||
16th | School Visit at Ellison Primary Academy, Wolstanton, Newcastle-under-Lyme – delivering my ‘Guess the Animal’ workshop performing animal stories and poems to Reception. | |
21st | School Visit at Ellison Primary Academy, Wolstanton, Newcastle-under-Lyme – delivering my ‘Guess the Animal’ workshop performing animal stories and poems to Year 1. | |
July | ||
16th | Newcastle-under-Lyme Medieval Market – performing stories and poems as ‘Strolling Storytellers’ – along with fellow author & illustrator Glenn Martin James – Newcastle-under-Lyme Town Centre. | |
October | ||
5th | School Visit for National Poetry Day at Discovery Academy, Bentilee, Stoke-on-Trent – delivering my ‘Conflict’ workshop to Year 9. | |
6th | School Visit for National Poetry Day at Ellison Primary Academy, Wolstanton, Newcastle-under-Lyme – delivering my ‘I Don’t Want To’ workshop to KS1 and my ‘Conflict’ workshop to KS2 during their assemblies. | |
November | ||
7th | School Visit at Alsagers Bank Primary Academy, Stoke-on-Trent – delivering my ‘Guess the Animal’ workshop for Year 1, ‘I Don’t Want To’ workshop for Year 2, ‘Titanic’ workshop for Year 3 & 4, ‘Conflict’ workshop for Year 4 & 5 and ‘Lest We Forget’ workshop for Year 6. | |
10th | Virtual School Visit at Portchester Community School, Portchester, Fareham, Hampshire – delivering my ‘Lest We Forget’ workshop to Year 7 to Year 11. | |
15th | School Visit at Holy Souls Catholic Primary School, Birmingham – delivering my ‘Guess the Animal’ workshop for Reception, ‘I Don’t Want To’ workshop for Year 1 & 2, ‘I Want to be an Engineer’ workshop for Year 3 & 4 and ‘The Abandoned House’ workshop for Year 5 & 6. | |
18th | Welcome to Christmas Event – performing stories and poems as ‘Strolling Victorian Storytellers’ – along with fellow author & illustrator Glenn Martin James – Hanley Town Centre, Stoke-on-Trent (11.00 am – 4.00 pm). | |
24th | Virtual School Visit at Perry Wood Primary and Nursery School, Worcester – delivering my ‘I Don’t Want To’ workshop to Reception, ‘Guess the Animal’ workshop to Year 1, ‘I Don’t Want To’ workshop to Year 2 & 3, ‘I Want to be an Engineer’ workshop to Year 4, ‘The Abandoned House’ workshop to Year 5 and ‘Titanic’ workshop for Year 6. | |
2 0 2 2 | ||
March | ||
3rd | Virtual School Visit at Ellison Primary Academy, Wolstanton, Newcastle-under-Lyme – for World Book Day delivering my ‘I Don’t Want To’ workshop to KS1 & KS2 during their online assembly. | |
June | ||
4th | Crowning Ceremony Performance – A recreation of the coronation, where I played a BBC broadcaster – The Market Cross, Newcastle-under-Lyme Town Centre (2.00 – 3.00 pm). | |
5th | Storytelling at Newcastle’s Platinum Jubilee Celebrations at The Guildhall, Newcastle-under-Lyme Town Centre – performing my stories and poems along with fellow author & illustrator Glenn Martin James (3.00 – 4.30 pm). | |
14th | School Visit at Ellison Primary Academy, Wolstanton, Newcastle-under-Lyme – delivering my ‘I Want to be an Engineer’ workshop to Year 5 . | |
15th | School Visit at Ellison Primary Academy, Wolstanton, Newcastle-under-Lyme – delivering my ‘Guess the Animal’ workshop performing animal stories and poems to Year 1. | |
July | ||
8th | School Visit at Ellison Primary Academy, Wolstanton, Newcastle-under-Lyme – delivering my ‘Guess the Animal’ workshop performing animal stories and poems to Reception. | |
October | ||
7th | School Visit for National Poetry Day at Ellison Primary Academy, Wolstanton, Newcastle-under-Lyme. – delivering my ‘I Don’t Want To Eat That’ & ‘I Don’t Want to Stop Playing’ workshops to KS1 & KS2 during their assemblies. | |
December | ||
17th | A Christmas Carol Performance – An adaptation of Charles Dicken’s immortal classic by The John O’Gaunt Irregulars Performance Group, where I played the narrator – Mellards Bar, Market Lane, Newcastle-under-Lyme, ST5 1AA (7.00 – 8.00 pm). | |
18th | A Christmas Carol Performance – An repeat performance of Charles Dicken’s immortal classic by The John O’Gaunt Irregulars Performance Group, where I played the narrator – Newcastle-under-Lyme Town Centre (1.00 – 2.00 pm). |
2 0 2 1 | ||
(Due to Covid-19, some events planned for 2021 have been postponed or cancelled) | ||
June | ||
10th | Virtual School Visit at Ellison Primary Academy, Wolstanton, Newcastle-under-Lyme – delivering my ‘Lest We Forget’ workshop performing war poems to Year 5 and 6. | |
25th | Virtual School Visit at Ellison Primary Academy, Wolstanton, Newcastle-under-Lyme – delivering my ‘Guess the Animal’ workshop performing animal stories and poems to Year 1. | |
July | ||
5th | School Visit at Yarlet School, near Stafford – delivering my ‘Poetry Can Be About Anything’ workshop to Year 3 to Year 7. | |
September | ||
7th | School Visit at The Orme Academy, Wolstanton, Newcastle-under-Lyme – performing some of my poetry and talking about my career so far at their Library Launch (for the new Year 7). | |
10th | Return School Visit at The Orme Academy, Wolstanton, Newcastle-under-Lyme – performing some of my poetry and talking about my career so far at their Library Launch (for local primary schools’ Year 6). | |
October | ||
7th | Virtual School Visit for National Poetry Day at Ellison Primary Academy, Wolstanton, Newcastle-under-Lyme – delivering my ‘I Don’t Want to Eat That’ workshop to KS1 & KS2 pupils during their online assembly. | |
November | ||
21st | Newcastle-under-Lyme Christmas Lights Switch On – performing stories and poems as ‘Roaming Victorian Storytellers’ during this popular event for the 5th year running – along with fellow author & illustrator Glenn Martin James – Newcastle-under-Lyme Town Centre (11.30 am – 5.00 pm). | |
2 0 2 0 | ||
(Due to Covid-19, numerous events planned for 2020 were postponed or cancelled) | ||
March | ||
5th | School Visit for World Book Day at Ellison Primary Academy, Wolstanton, Newcastle-under-Lyme – delivering my ‘I Don’t Want to Go to School’ workshop to Reception, KS1 & KS2 during assembly – along with fellow Resident Author Glenn Martin James. | |
October | ||
1st | Virtual School Visit for National Poetry Day at Ellison Primary Academy, Wolstanton, Newcastle-under-Lyme – delivering my ‘I Don’t Want to Go to Bed’ workshop to KS1 & KS2 during their online assembly. | |
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). |
2 0 1 9 | ||
February | ||
28th | Year 6 Careers Fair – Stallholder at Clarice Cliff Primary School, Fenton, Stoke-on-Trent – talking to Year 6 about my profession at their Careers Fair. | |
March | ||
4th | School Visit for World Book Day at Springcroft Primary School, Blythe Bridge – delivering my ‘Poetry Can Be About Anything’ workshop to Reception, KS1 & KS2 during assembly. | |
7th | School Visit for World Book Day at Silverdale Primary Academy, Newcastle-under-Lyme – delivering my ‘Guess the Animal’ workshop for Nursery & Reception, ‘Poetry Can Be About Anything’ workshop for Year 1, 2, 3 & 4 and ‘Titanic’ workshop for Year 5 & 6. | |
26th | Youth Group Poetry Workshop at Friends for Leisure’s Crewe Youth Group – delivering my ‘Poetry Can Be About Anything” workshop to 13-21-year-olds with special educational needs. | |
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 at Ellison Primary Academy, Wolstanton, Newcastle-under-Lyme – delivering my ‘Guess the Animal’ workshop performing animal stories and poems to Year 1. | |
24th | Judging of Public Speaking Competition at Ellison Primary Academy, Wolstanton, Newcastle-under-Lyme – KS2 finals. | |
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 at Ellison Primary Academy, Wolstanton, Newcastle-under-Lyme – Reception/KS1 finals. | |
9th | School Visit at Ellison Primary Academy, Wolstanton, Newcastle-under-Lyme – delivering my ‘Conflict’ workshop performing conflict poetry from my book ‘Conflict’ to Year 6. | |
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 at Artisan Tap, Hartshill, Stoke-on-Trent – performing spooky stories and poems – along with fellow author & illustrator Glenn Martin James – (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 (11.30 am – 5.00 pm). | |
2 0 1 8 | ||
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 at Ellison Primary Academy, Wolstanton, Newcastle-under-Lyme – performing 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). | |
May | ||
14th | School Visit at Ellison Primary Academy, Wolstanton, Newcastle-under-Lyme – performing poems on the ‘Rainforest’ to Year 4. | |
June | ||
21st | School Visit at Ellison Primary Academy, Wolstanton, Newcastle-under-Lyme – delivering my ‘Guess the Animal’ workshop performing animal stories and poems to Year 1. | |
25th | Judging of Public Speaking Competition at Ellison Primary Academy, Wolstanton, Newcastle-under-Lyme – Reception/KS1 & KS2 finals. | |
July | ||
13th | School Visit at Ellison Primary Academy, Wolstanton, Newcastle-under-Lyme. – delivering my ‘Poetry Can Be About Anything’ workshop to Year 3. | |
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 at The Brampton Museum, Newcastle-under-Lyme – delivering my ‘Guess the Animal’ workshop performing animal stories and poems (10.15 – 11.15 am). | |
31st | ‘Spooky Spectacular’ Children’s Halloween Workshop at Artisan Tap, Hartshill, Stoke-on-Trent – performing spooky stories and poems – along with fellow author & illustrator Glenn Martin James – (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 at Ellison Primary Academy, Wolstanton, Newcastle-under-Lyme – delivering my ‘Lest We Forget’ workshop performing war poems to Year 5. |