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Books & Poetry
BARLEY AND BASIL ARE BACK
A Shropshire author has released his second book for children, continuing the adventures of Barley the dog and his nephew Basil in the county’s beautiful countryside
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about taking them on long walks all over the county. That was when I had the idea of turning
them into children’s stories. I set out to write two Barley’s Biscuit books but I’ve got enough material for 12!
“I’ve lived in Shropshire for 30 years now,” says Roy. “It’s a beautiful county and I’ve always thought it would provide a wonderful backdrop for a series, with every book set in a di erent beauty spot – separate stories but on a similar theme.”
Proud author Roy Bradshaw
Barley’s Biscuit: Ironbridge Gorge, A Paddle and the Golden Glow is the latest in what author Roy Bradshaw hopes will be a series of 12 books and follows the fi rst release, Barley’s Biscuit: Broseley, Benthall Edge, written during lockdown. Roy, from Madeley, is a teacher at Madeley Academy and was inspired by his friend Mick and his two pet dogs.
“He has one collie called Barley who’s mad about biscuits, and another called Basil, and he used to tell hilarious stories
Shropshire spots to star
The new book is set in Ironbridge and features more exciting adventures for Barley and Basil. “People have been asking for a while when it would be out and it’s great to be able to say now,” says the author. “I hope they’ll take as much pleasure from reading it as I did writing it.”
Roy has also self-published novels for adults, but says that was mainly for fun and as a way of honing his writing skills. Before joining Madeley, he taught in primary, secondary and special schools and worked as an engineer. “Being a teacher has helped me appreciate the joy a good adventure story brings to the young – and not so young,” he adds.
Roy wants to follow up the release of his new book with signings and school readings. If you’d like to host an event, email roy.bradshaw456@outlook.com or call Roy on 07874 706780.
Barley’s Biscuit: Ironbridge Gorge, A Paddle and the Golden Glow is published by YouCaxton and available from Amazon and local outlets. Follow Barley and Basil on Facebook @BarleysBiscuit
LOCAL BOOKS
The Consequence by Gerald Jones Gerald Jones was born in Newtown, Mid-Wales but raised in the village of Llandyssil where the book is based. The Consequence is the author’s debut novel and the idea for it came a long time ago, in his early teens, hearing of soldiers in action in Egypt during the First World War.
It is a tale of war, love and courage, of the men who must leave home and the women they leave behind. Gerald dedicated hundreds of hours to research and there are many historical details unique to the local area. The characters are fi ctitious but their stories all too real.
The Consequence, price £8.99, is on Amazon and Goodreads. A sequel, Sam, will be published in the new year.
The Lost Child of Chernobyl by Helen Bate Helen Bate’s latest work is a powerful graphic novel inspired by the explosion at
the Ukrainian power plant, published for the 35th anniversary of the disaster. One April night, people living near Chernobyl see a bright light in the sky. Everyone is told to move out, but two stubborn old ladies, Anna and Klara, refuse to leave…
Helen, from Whitchurch, won a People’s Book Prize for her innovative work with Pictures to Share, creating books for people with dementia. The Lost Child of Chernobyl is published by Otter-Barry, price £12.99
Grandfather’s War by Les Broad When Les, from St Asaph, lost his mother, he realised he knew very little about her father – his grandad – so he began to dig. Charles Cook, he discovered, is one of 154,000 British and Calling local authors… Commonwealth war dead buried in Iraq. Les compiled their story in this moving book, available via King’s Hall Productions’ Facebook page. If you’re living in the Shire area or have written about a local person or place, we’d love to feature you on these pages. Email editorial@ shiremagazine.co.uk.
Big Boys Don’t Cry by Libby Allison and Francesca Varutti The fi rst book from this Oswestry-based author/publishing team, Big Boys Don’t Cry is aimed at boys aged fi ve to nine who have su ered upset or trauma. Although written for professionals working with young people, the lively illustrations and simple message are ideal for parents and carers to read with children at home too.
The book is accompanied by a set of 11 activity sheets to promote discussion about feelings, good and bad secrets and hopes for the future. Order from www.allisonvarutti.co.uk, £6.99 (workbook/CD, £10.99).
Our friends at Linghams Booksellers in Heswall are starting the New Year with two tales of witchcraft and wonder to keep you spellbound…
Tidelands by Philippa by Philippa Gregory Gregory
Midsummer’s Eve, 1648, and England is in the grip of civil the grip of civil war between war between renegade King and rebellious Parliament. The struggle The struggle reaches every reaches every corner of the kingdom, even to the remote Tidelands – the marshy to the remote Tidelands – the marshy landscape of the south coast. A dangerous landscape of the south coast. A dangerous time for a woman to be different… time for a woman to be different…
Alinor, a descendant of wise women, crushed by poverty, waits in the graveyard under the full moon for a ghost who will declare her free from her abusive husband. Instead she meets James, a young man on the run, and shows him the secret ways across the treacherous marsh, not knowing that she is leading disaster into the heart of her life. For this is the time of witch-mania, and Alinor, living alone, skilled with herbs, suddenly enriched, arouses envy in her rivals and fear among the villagers, who are ready to take action into their own hands.
The Manningtree Witches by AK
Blakemore Fear and destruction take root in a community of women when the root in a community of women when the WitchfinderWitchfinderGeneral comes General comes to town, in to town, in this dark and this dark and thrilling debut thrilling debut also set during also set during the English the English Civil War. Civil War. Rebecca West, fatherless and fatherless and husbandless, husbandless, chafes against chafes against the drudgery the drudgery of her days, of her days, livened only livened only by her infatuation with clerk John Edes. by her infatuation with clerk John Edes. But then newcomer Matthew Hopkins But then newcomer Matthew Hopkins takes over the Thorn Inn and begins takes over the Thorn Inn and begins to ask questions about the ‘women of the margins’. When a child falls ill and starts to rave about covens and pacts, the questions take on a bladed edge
The Manningtree Witches plunges its readers into the fever and menace of the English witch trials, where the power of men went unchecked and the integrity of women undefended.
A poem supporting Guide Dogs for the Blind by Freda Davies
Sight, do you take it for granted? Sight, it’s a wonderful thing Imagine your life without sight And all the problems that would bring
Man’s best friend is willing to help us With much training he can act as your eyes Please support our fundraising e orts Training costs may come as a surprise
But it’s worth it when you realise the di erence A guide dog can make to a blind person’s day It’s also their best friend and guardian Giving independence and showing the way
So give generously and think of others Blindness can’t be managed without aid Guide dogs have helped lots of people But their costs still have to be paid!
The Miner by Sheila Crozier
The smoke pours out of every chimney All black and soot and grimy We feel it in our lungs and clothes It’s what gives our daily bread Oh please to God That he would give us something else instead I only have my labour to o er What more can a working man do? I’m not an educated man like you He takes himself up to his o ce All neat and clean and tidy But me, I works here, where all the air Is dirt, fi lth and grimy I crawls out o’ bed I puts on me boots Thank God she got them cobbled For this week I’m on earlies And I would have to hobble I wend me way to work each day We meet and sing all along the road This bloody long and awful road I’m sick of earlies For when I rise, the sun is still in bed I wish I was still in bed Lying next to her All soft and pink and red I love that woman The day is long, and dark and hard And we toil for puny wages The owners know how to get their worth Since we work here, for ages and ages and ages In this muck, this gold, this grimy.
Winter by Jo Young
The days that were full of light Are gradually decreasing and turning into night In October, the clocks went back Leaving us mentally and physically out of whack
The dog walks and chats in the early balmy evening Along with the summer songs on the radio – have now left us believing That Winter has now arrived Di erently we will now have to strive For three weeks the cold rains and winds we have faced But it is the freshly frosted morning we want to taste
To face the day, getting bundled up against the cold Wearing scarves and woolly hats – now that’s me sold! Talking my Daisy dog out, feeling the snap of twigs under my shoes Fresh clear skies, friendly faces, nice views – takes away my blues!
Here’s to dreaming And positively believing That come January, the light will gradually start to come Bringing brighter thoughts to some The lack of sun and light that made us feel sad Is soon on its way out – for that we say hurrah and don’t feel bad Thoughts will now focus on Spring and the future Now that truly is our suitor!
The Ancient of Days by Norman Marshall
When I am knackered and grey With nothing in my purse, Except a wallet full of memories And some questionable verse; I doubt people will sing my praise Or come to visit me. So, I will take myself o To live by the sea. I will look through the door, Listen for the mewing gull, For there on the inviting shore Is an inexorable pull. I will sit and admire the sunset, Look up into a mackerel sky, Content with my character And there I will die.
We want your poems!
Share your creativity – we print our favourite poems every issue. Send them to Poetry Page, Shire, PO Box 276, Oswestry, Shropshire SY10 1FR or email editorial@shiremagazine.co.uk
