Our third annual ‘open mic’ event saw around forty writers and their guests enjoy an evening of readings at Ripon’s Golden Lion. Vicky and Steve generously allowed us free use of their large (and air conditioned) function room, for which everyone was very grateful on such a hot evening.
In addition to many local writers, we were pleased to welcome contingents from Leeds, Harrogate, Nidderdale and York, including many Swanwickers (devotees of The Writers’ Summer School).
Poetry, prose and drama flowed in generous measure and we managed to fit in – just – everyone who signed up to read.
Please click on the thumbnails to see the photographs in full. We really didn’t cut off any heads, even those whose owners exceeded the suggested time limit!
For our outing this year, we decided to visit a jewel virtually on our own doorstep. Only three miles south of Ripon on the A61 (but invisible from it) lies Markenfield Hall, a rare example of a completely moated medieval manor house. Built in 1310, it has an extraordinary history and is now the home of Lady Deirdre Curteis and her husband, director, playwright and screenwriter Ian Curteis. Famous for his scripts for popular series such as Doomwatch, Crown Court, Hadleigh and The Onedin Line, Ian is even better known for his political dramas and his tussles with the BBC, particularly over The Falklands Play. At 78, he shows no sign of slowing down.
The inspiration for this event came from our Vice Chair, Lindsay, one of whose friends lives in a cottage on the estate. As well as arranging for Mr Curteis to give us a guided tour of the Hall and a talk about his long and distinguished writing career, Julia was kind enough to allow us to picnic in her garden beforehand, to the complete bemusement of the cattle in the fields beyond. For once, the weather was on our side and we had a glorious evening.
Building on the success of the last two years’ events, we hope to welcome writers from far and wide to The Golden Lion in Allhallowgate on Tuesday, 9th July.
There will be no admission charge for this event, which will begin at 7pm with the first reading at 7.30pm. Refreshments from the bar will be available throughout the evening.
Everyone is welcome, whether to read a piece of their own work or just to enjoy listening over a drink, so please spread the word.
A good time was had by all at the final meeting of the year. Held in a beautifully decorated YMCA Lounge, there was food, drink, fun, frivolity and … more food, drink, fun and frivolity.
The Committee had worked hard on the programme for the evening. A picture quiz about well known (and less well known) television series served as an ice breaker. The Chair’s Challenge, based this year on cryptic clues leading to book titles, was hotly contested and a game of charades led to much hilarity.
‘Literary’ contributions took the form of festive limericks written for the occasion and the President’s Cup, awarded for the greatest number of points accumulated during the year, was presented with due solemnity by Audrey to a rather embarrassed recipient. (See below)
It only remains to wish all our members, former members and anyone else reading this, a very Merry Christmas and Happy New Year.
The adjudication of the Article Competition has been postponed to Tuesday, 9th October. As a result, the next Open MSS and Book Sale have been brought forward to Tuesday, 25th September.
We are delighted with the way our second Literary Allsorts evening has gone.
As well as contributions from many of our own members, we were pleased to hear from well known local poets Paul Mills and Roger Kendall and representatives from Knaresborough, Harrogate and York writers’ groups. The audience of members and guests was most appreciative throughout and the bar of The Golden Lion did a roaring trade. (Yes, I know!)
Deep humiliation was in store for Maggie, our Chair. Having asked everyone else to ensure that their mobile phones were switched off, hers loudly announced the arrival of a text right in the middle of a reading. Fortunately, it was her own reading that was disrupted and gales of laughter ensued.
Thank you, Eileen and Julie, for supplying the photographs.
Following the success of last year’s event, this will take place at The Golden Lion in Allhallowgate on Tuesday, 3rd July. This date will replace our usual fortnightly meeting and has been chosen to fall during Independent Booksellers’ Week.
There will be no admission charge for this event, which will begin at 7pm with the first reading at 7.30pm. Refreshments from the bar will be available throughout the evening.
Everyone is welcome, whether to read a piece of their own work or just to enjoy listening over a drink, so please spread the word.
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