This time of year is one of reflection. And there are times when I think I have not done a great deal on the writing front so here are a few things that spring to mind, re-looking at 2013, just to make me feel a little better.

We (Ian, Ted, Ron & me) began in January rehearsing the MEN OF THE TYNE show (stories, songs and film) which we went onto perform in February at the Arts Centre Washington, Phoenix Theatre Blyth and the Gala, Durham.

In January, with Filmmaker Andrew Hagan, I began working on the HLF funded project MADE OF STEEL which resulted in celebratory events in Consett in April and culminated in June with a film, stories and songs.
http://www.madeofsteel.co.uk/

In April the ‘Vanished’ documentary film (with Gary Wilkinson) was premiered. It looks at the changing face of South Tyneside and I also gave a talk on William Jobling, the last man gibbeted in the north. The event was held at South Shields Central Library

On August 12 we began rehearsing my one-man play I LOVE KENT WALTON which was staged at the Customs House from September 4th to 7th. The play was wonderfully played by Micky Cochrane and directed by my equally wonderful daughter, Fiona.

British Theatre Guide Review
http://britishtheatreguide.info/reviews/i-love-kent-wal-customs-house-9367

During the run I fitted in a reading at Waddington Street Café in Durham which I really enjoyed. All thanks to Steve Urwin for creating a very supportive and popular venue: Not easy.

Heritage Day on the 13th September saw a couple of documentary films (‘Vanished’ & ‘Tyne Dock Borders’) that I’d worked on with the indomitable filmmaker Gary Wilkinson and were shown at the Customs House.

On the 30th of September my collection I KNOW THEIR FOOTSTEPS was launched at the ‘secret gem’ that is the Lit & Phil., Newcastle. A lovely night I shared with fellow poet Eileen Jones.
http://www.redsquirrelpress.com/SquirrelCAT.html

Other readings promoting the book followed at South Shields Central Library, U3A South Shields, Middlesbrough, and Newcastle Book Festival. In October I also chaired a question and answer session with former Poet Laureate, Andrew Motion.

I KNOW THEIR FOOTSTEPS is selling well, like the other five Red Squirrel collections, Dreamers in a Cold Climate, Love-Lines, Somewhere in Heaven, History Talks and The Time Office which have all sold out.

October also saw the Men of the Tyne do a couple of show at the Customs House and Morpeth. Sadly the show at The MEM, Wallsend was cancelled because of the venues sudden closure. It has now re-opened.

And here is one of our songs from the show, By the River with the Bairns. I wrote the songs with Ian Ravenscroft.

I have finished off the year writing THE GIRL AND THE UNICORN a play for children with music and songs which is being produced and staged by the Customs House during half-term (from February 18th 2014 )
http://www.customshouse.co.uk/whats-on/Theatre/1394/the-girl-and-the-unicorn

And recently Steve Thompson has returned to DOWN BY THE RIVER a multi-media project that we began what seems like aeons ago. And here’s a link to the first track. The poem is Geordie which began its life in my collection DREAMERS INA COLD CLIMATE and ended (literally) in the collection HISTORY TALKS.

http://www.wmdjmedia.com/dttr/

Ah well it seems I have done some writing and here’s to 2014!