INTERVIEW WITH JASON DALGLIESH

Watford Writers went on the road again, this time appearing at The Random Cafe's Great Big Green Day held on Saturday 17 June 2023.  A number of group members read poems, monologues and even performed a special "super hero" play in honour of Watford's very own Green Grandma, Jo Morgan.

There were contributions from David Elliott, Mike Lansdown, Chris McDermott, Jo Morgan, Andrea Neidle, Helen Nicell, Pat Simpson, Louise and Ian Welland.

The Random Cafe is a splendid green community project located in the heart of the Meridian estate, Watford. RANDOM CAFE: 24a Garsmouth Way, Watford WD25 9DR

CLICK HERE for Random Cafe website

CLICK HERE FOR PHOTOS OF WATFORD WRITERS AT THE RANDOM CAFE

Thanks you to Jo and all the volunteers at the Random Cafe for a splendid day. 

The children of Colnbrook School were recently treated to a morning of storytelling when members of a local writers’ group visited. Taking inspiration from a book cover design illustrated by the pupils, members of the KidsLit group wrote original stories and poems, which were entered into a competition organised by the South Oxhey school. The children chose their favourite from the eleven entries—a charming story in rhyme titled The Elephant Who Went to the Moon by Susan de Silva.  

“I was delighted my story was chosen,’ Susan said. ‘It was wonderful to read to the children of Colnbrook. I look forward to seeing more of their illustrations.”

“We were grateful for the opportunity to work with and share our stories with the students of Colnbrook School,” another KidsLits Lit Author commented following the event. ‘We would love to collaborate with other local schools in the future.”   

Caroline Aplin, the Headteacher said, “Colnbrook have really enjoyed working collaboratively with the writers. The children initially designed a front cover and our Chair of Governors, Hilary McDermott, put us in touch with the writers, who took on board the title of the story and wrote some wonderful stories. The student voice chose a winner, and we were delighted that many of the authors were able to come into school and read to us. Collaboration with our local community is very important to us as a special school and we are grateful for the opportunity to be part of this.”

CLICK HERE TO VIEW ALL THE PHOTOS OF KIDS LIT AT COLNBROOK 

The KidsLit group evolved from Watford Writers in 2020, when it was realised there were many in the group interested in writing for children. They meet fortnightly on Thursdays on Zoom and have previously performed works at local events.  

If your school might be interested in working with the group please contact Chris McDermott, benhannick@aol.com 

Further information on KidsLit, PLEASE CLICK HERE.

On May 22nd The Education Centre at Batchworth Lock played host to local writers’ group, Watford Writers. Since Covid, we now meet mainly on Zoom but continue to convene face-to-face once a month at a meeting hall in Watford. When this became temporarily unavailable the group were delighted to take up the offer of a session down by the lock!

About sixteen members made their way from as far afield as Watford and Ruislip and all managed to find both the centre itself and the free parking available nearby. Taking the theme of ‘water’ as a focus for the evening we read and discussed some previously written pieces and, responding to the Centre’s beautiful setting and watery environment, spent some time writing a few new ones. 

These can be seen by CLICKING HERE.

I hope you enjoy reading our efforts and I think we may well use the Centre again in the foreseeable future.

If developing creative writing could be of interest to you, we are a friendly group who are always happy to welcome new members.

Sincere thanks to Mike Lansdown.

On 27 February 2023, in the presence of our guest of honour Cllr Aga Dychton, Deputy Mayor of Watford; and special guest speaker David Loose, we all came together at Watford Museum to celebrate our 18th birthday. 

The Deputy Mayor gave a rousing opening speech; followed by Ian Welland announcing the results of our latest poetry competition, Transformation. 

Our guest speaker David Loose presented his talk on Record Jack which tells the story of Watford cyclist Jack Harter and his achievements from 1890. David bought along two vintage bikes for the group to see and copies of his book. Record Jack can be purchased from Watford Museum. Click here for full details of David's talk.

Jan Rees recited a specially written piece for the evening; which was followed by the successful poetry entries from our latest competition. 

Our group started in February 2005 with over 50 people attending the first meeting at Cha-Cha Cafe in Cassiobury Park. Our ethos has always been to support and encourage writers of all genres and styles.

A splendid evening was complete with eats and drinks, and a specially made cake by member Louise Welland that had our group logo on and edged with iced books!

Many thanks to our special guests; and to Sarah Priestley and Lewis Butler at Watford Museum for kindly hosting our birthday party.

Please see our photo gallery

At our meeting on 6 February, we took the opportunity for a photograph of some of our winners and podium placed runners-up in 2023. 

(L to R):

Andrea Neidle; Louise Welland; Mike Lansdown; Geoff Brown; Jan Rees; Liz Shaw; David Elliott; and Helen Nicell.

Well done to all those above; plus Kay Hall, Lesley Kerr, and Sumi Watters who sadly couldn't make our meeting.  

More photos to follow.

This month sees the eagerly awaited publication of The Land Beyond the Seas by Watford based writer, Michael J Lansdown.

The book, the second in a planned trilogy, brings our fifteen-year-old hero William Parker, face to face with thieves, murderers and enemies of the state in a sweeping tale that travels the globe from Georgian England to Britain’s fledgling Australian colony. Following in the footsteps of Adam’s Lock published in 2017, Mike delivers a heart rendering and soul-searching story of the harshness and realities of survival in the age of Redcoats.

Mike, a member of Watford Writers, is a PGCE tutor and MA in education supervisor with the University of Buckingham’s education department, a position he has held since retiring from his second Headship in 2015. Prior to completing 18 years as a Headteacher, Mike worked in London teaching in both the primary and secondary sectors. Before this, Mike taught English as a foreign language (EFL) to adults in London and in Sweden; however, he started his career teaching geography, geology and physical education to secondary pupils.

Mike says,

“Having left William languishing in a boat, newly arrived from London, facing an uncertain future as a fifteen-year-old convict, I felt I had to go back and help him in his bid for survival! In the Land Beyond the Seas, I tell his story as he goes from callow youth to young man, negotiating the rules and expectations of the Colony, most unwritten, where the greatest dangers come not from the authorities but from your fellow prisoners. William’s story is one of stoic resistance, of knowing which battles are worth fighting, and, above all, of holding onto those things that you hold dear and believe in. I hope I leave him in a better place and that all his trials and tribulations have been worth it – but that is for the reader to decide.”

The Land Beyond the Seas is published by TSL Books 

Ten years after I published ROAD WORKS, a nostalgic travel memoir told through the prism of family car journeys over forty years, I’ve co-written a sequel, THE EXTRA MILES – on roads still to travel.

Not so many cars this time, and just ten years of travels, but lots of wry humour from my co-writer and travelling companion, Anne-Marie. For all of us, every journey is a personal experience and we relate ours together with over hundred coloured pictures.

We hope you’ll enjoy riding with us across England, Ireland, Scotland, France and New Zealand perhaps recalling some of your own visits and maybe discovering new places you want to explore. 

THE EXTRA MILES by Brian Bold with Anne-Marie Groves is currently available as a paperback from www.lulu.com and hopefully soon from Amazon too.

Watford Writers very own Jan Rees celebrates our wonderful town with her specially written prose. To see this excellent presentation and hear Jan's superb recital performance:

Please Click Here