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Issue 1308
Call 0114 283 1100
8th February 2024
www.looklocal.org.uk
Local News
Ted’s keyboard exercise turns into a full life story It began as a simple exercise in improving keyboard skills… but with the support of St Luke’s Hospice, it’s become a fascinating insight into the daily life of patient Ted Murat.
in full, with Ted also adding special extra sections of his childhood in Attercliffe, his lifelong passion for cycling and his 62 years with wife Sheila, who died last autumn.
Ted, who is 86, started keeping a daily diary when son Philip gave him a computer back in the year 2000.
“I had no inclination to write my story but when it was suggested to me I thought I’d give it a go as I never say no to anything,” Ted said.
“I just wanted a bit of keyboard practice so I just started to put down what came into my head or simple notes about things that had happened that day,” Ted says. “I was just writing for me, it wasn’t to entertain anybody – it was just observations about things that were happening at the time.” Move forward more than 20 years and retired television engineer Ted, who lives with pulmonary fibrosis, was spending time on the St Luke’s Hospice In Patient Centre, when Occupational Therapist Rob Smith suggested that he might like to put down some of his memories on paper. That’s when Ted pointed out that he already had more than two decades of his life preserved on a computer file and with the support and encouragement of fellow Occupational Therapist Lorraine West, that story has now been printed out
“People have said they want to read it and I’ve said I’d be flattered, even though it was never written to be read. “What I like myself is that I can open a page at random and be quite surprised at what I’ve written!” Ted, who lived for many years in Wadsley Bridge before becoming a resident at the Porterbrook Care Home in Crosspool, now looks forward to his regular St Luke’s visits. “It gives me the opportunity to meet other people from different environments and I love it, I think it’s wonderful,” he admits. “It’s thanks to St Luke’s that I now have my story printed out and that’s meant a lot to me. “I’ve never thought about turning it into a book – I’m just amazed it has got this far and that’s only because St Luke’s has spurred me on.”
FIRST EVER BARNSLEY BOOK FESTIVAL KICKS OFF Barnsley Libraries first-ever Barnsley Book Festival is set to take place in various locations across the borough from 2nd February to 23rd March 2024.
Andrew McMillan in conversation with Helen Mort and the launch of his debut novel Pity at Library @ the Lightbox – Sat 17 Feb
The fully packed programme will feature internationally known authors and poets from Barnsley, such as Ian McMillan, Andrew McMillan and Milly Johnson, powerhouses like Matt Abbott and Toria Garbutt, storytellers, artists and speakers, all celebrating literature and our shared love for reading.
A special screening of The Shining at Parkway Cinema followed by a Q&A session with Craig Oldham – Tuesday 5 March
As part of the fully packed programme, themes ranging from politics, gaming, local history, neurodiversity, LGBTQ+, romance, adventure and many more will be explored. During the festival, Barnsley Libraries will be hosting many family activities for everyone to get involved, as well as showcasing artists who have been commissioned to create new work. Some of the festival highlights include:
Conversation with novelist Catherine Curzon at Cannon Hall Museum on her latest novel Inside the World of Bridgerton – Saturday 16 March The Happiest Ever After by Millie Johnson book launch and conversation at Barnsley Town Hall – Thursday 15 February Conversation with the country’s leading military historian Richard Van Emden on his new book Volunteers: The Incredible Story of Kitchener’s Army Through Soldiers’ and Civilians’ Own Words – Saturday 23 March The festival also offers a range of free activities for children and young people during the February half-term, including land art with James Brunt at Hoyland Library, creating sto-
ry dioramas with Amazelab at Roundhouse and Cudworth Libraries, captivating storytelling with Richard O’Neill at Goldthorpe Library, puppet-making and song creating workshop with McShane and Shaw at the Barnsley Civic, and Poetic Adventures with Dommy B at Library @ the Lightbox, a workshop that combines poetry, storytelling and tae kwon-do.
To celebrate the LGBTQ+ History Month, the festival has several events showcasing diversity and creativity. These include Reading with Pride, a panel event featuring authors behind LGBTQIA+ books, A Reyt Queer Do in Darfield with poet Tom Juniper, and a launch of Andrew McMillan’s debut novel ‘Pity’. Andrew McMillan, poet, said: “It’s a dream to have such an inclusive and dynamic book festival in Barnsley - from local heroes like Geoff Hattersley to new commissions exploring the queer legacy of the town, I hope this is the first of many such festivals to come - putting Barnsley at the very centre of literary culture, as we’ve always known it to be!”
