An Interview with

Leena and Max Batchelor

A Poet and a Vehicle Mechanic… No, it isn’t the start of a bad joke. Instead, we caught up with the Worcestershire Poet Laureate, Leena Batchelor, and her son, Max, a VM and PTI, to chat about how they’ve been supporting The REME Charity.

Akey part of joining the Corps is that you also become part of The REME Family, with all the support, relationships and belonging that brings with it. “Once REME, always REME!”

That family tie extends beyond our Officers and Soldiers to their own families as well, whether they are parents, spouses, partners or children. Many realise this, giving to The REME Charity in multiple different ways in the knowledge that it will be there for them or their loved ones when they need it.

Leena and Max Batchelor are two such people, who found ways to give to The REME Charity and The REME Family in the process. We caught up with them earlier this year to find out more about their connection to REME, how they’ve been fundraising, and their thoughts on poetry and engineering.

Hi Leena. Would you like to introduce yourself to our readers?

I’m Leena Batchelor, also known as Pixie Muse Poetry & Prose on my various social media channels (all the usual culprits – YouTube, Facebook, Twitter and Instagram!). I work full time as a Headteacher’s PA at a Secondary School in the West Midlands, and as their Clerk to Governors. I’m also currently the Worcestershire Poet Laureate and a Writer in Residence for a local museum, The Commandery (famous for being the site of the final battle of the English Civil War!). I’m a mother of four children, and a grandmother of two boys. My eldest son (Max) is a REME Soldier, and my youngest son (Liam) is about to join the Royal Marines.

I’ve been writing since I was about 16, and have three solo poetry collections (all available from myself or Amazon), as well as inclusions in several anthologies. I also perform as a Spoken Word artist locally; all of these events have moved online during the pandemic, which means my audience has spread globally and included performances streamed to the USA, Finland, Canada, Germany, and Poland! Writing poetry for me has always been both an emotional release and a way of understanding the world around me; I’m also renowned for getting lost in a good book! I adore travelling (sadly curtailed during the current pandemic), and often use long weekends away to find inspiration for my writing.

Most of our readers probably aren’t aware that there are Poet Laureates for some counties. Could you explain what the role encompasses?

Most of the UK counties have local Poet Laureates; for Worcestershire, the post is awarded through an annual competition held by the Worcester LitFest in the Summer. Although the remit is up to each individual to detail, the general focus is upon promoting poetry in the local area and working with schools. I expanded this for myself to include promoting poetry as a tool for everyday life for everyone, and have several projects in the pipeline both for my tenure and afterwards. I also use the role as a vehicle to support various charities and organisations (mental health, forces, homelessness, etc.) – more important than ever at the moment.

Max is a REME Soldier, VM and PTI, currently serving at Lyneham. What impact has his decision to join the Army, and the Corps, had on your family?

Very much a double-edged sword (pardon the pun!). Naturally we’re all incredibly proud of him - it takes a very special and selfless person to serve. On the other hand, there are naturally times when we’re also very worried for him - his recent posting to Iraq being one of them. Watching him come to terms with extreme and testing situations, knowing there is little you can do apart from being there, is difficult. It has definitely made us close as a family, especially when he is posted away from home. However, I also believe the military life has helped him grow as a person and uncovered skills and characteristics that he may not have realised otherwise. As a mother, I have always encouraged all of my children to follow their hearts and Max is certainly doing so - that makes me happy.

Engineering and poetry probably seem worlds apart to most people. Have you found any ways to bridge the apparent gap between them?

In many ways, both are creative arts. The same way engineers visualise how things work and fit together, whether that be machines or buildings, I visualise how words can do the same. There are many beautiful examples of engineering in the country, as much as there are incredible poetic works. Bridging gaps between life and poetry is a subject I am very passionate about - poetry is not just for dusty library corners!

We’re all sick of hearing about it but I have to mention COVID. How have you found living through a year of pandemic, both as a military parent and with winning the Worcestershire Poet Laureateship in the midst of it?

Like everyone, I have had moments of utter desolation and despair, but I have also uncovered several moments of glorious hope, and beauty in human nature, and it is those that have been my lifeline. Knowing Max is in the military, I know he will be able to access the

best care and help available if needed, despite being put in challenging situations. I also know the military are in the position of being able to make a difference if called upon, and are less likely to face the financial impacts of furlough or job loss. This makes me less worried for him as a parent.

The Laureateship has given me the opportunity to use my position to reach out to people and help them through words of comfort and hope, to connect them to other poets who can do the same, and think of alternative ways of helping charities. It’s also provided me with the opportunity to shout about the wonderful side of human nature that does exist, and remind us of the important things in life. I feel very honoured and privileged to be able to do this.

At the end of 2020, you decided to create a 2021 Calendar and donate all the proceeds from sales to charities, including The REME Charity. What inspired the calendar?

I have served in REME for nine years in May 2021. During this time I have deployed on numerous Exercises, Adventurous Training and an Operational Tour in Iraq. I am currently posted to 8 Trg Bn REME, where I undertake the role of a Section Commander to Phase 2 Trainees.

You’ve been in REME for several years now and you’re a PTI. What was it that encouraged you to choose this career path?

I was originally inspired to join REME as a Vehicle Mechanic due to my fascination with taking things apart and sometimes not so successfully putting them back together. REME has now given me a trade for life. Another deciding factor was that my Grandad also served in REME (he was posted to Cyprus). I didn’t decide to become a PTI until my second posting, where my love for physical fitness grew, enabling me to give my knowledge and experience to others through physical training.

My inspiration comes from the thought-hamsters that run around inside my brain! Seriously, I woke up one day and thought ‘a calendar would be a good way to get poetry out to a wider audience outside of normal poetry circles’. This then led to - what else needs to be included (i.e. photos, two of which were taken by my youngest son Liam), and who could I raise money for? The REME Charity was a natural choice with Max serving. I was delighted to raise £157 for the charity, and would like to take the opportunity to thank everyone involved in producing and buying it. There is every chance that I will be repeating this again next year, although with Max’s brother joining the Royal Marines, I guess it will be one for both and you’ll have to share!

In November, as poppy sellers nationally were unable to raise funds through normal channels due to the pandemic, I held a live YouTube event for the Poppy Appeal featuring 11 poets with 11 poems on the theme of Remembrance (11/11!). This raised £70 for the appeal. Copies of the recording are still available for a donation to the Poppy Appeal, as are (a few) copies of the Calendar. If anyone is interested in either, please get in touch (astro_orb@yahoo.co.uk).

Most people’s exposure to poetry comes from English lessons at school or maybe TV. Has having a poet for a parent changed your relationship to poetry and how you view it?

So, like most others, my main exposure to poetry in my early years was due mainly to education within school. I was aware my mother wrote poetry and had seen some of her works within our home. However, in the last few years, especially since my mother became Poet Laureate, I have seen all the great work she has put into poetry and the growth that has had within the community. So although I do not read poetry I can see the positive impact it has on others and strongly encourage anybody to pick up a poem or to draw from some of her works.

Serving in the Military means that we have to often be separated from our family. When you chose to join REME, what was the impact on those relationships?

When I chose to join REME I was fully aware of the impact the separation could have on my family and friends. However everyone was 100% behind me and this only gave me the confidence I needed to spend long periods of time away from loved ones.

2020 was a really tough year for everyone, even though we can try to continue ‘as normal’, yet you still ran a Half Marathon while carrying an extra 71lbs. What inspired you to do that?

The reason I ran the Half Marathon carrying 71lbs was to try and ‘do my bit’; everyone within the medical sectors were working tirelessly, whilst the majority of the UK were locked down. I had already arranged to do this challenge in the previous year and did not want to quit or cancel when the money would be used for a great cause.

Both you and your mother chose to raise money for The REME Charity in 2020, though you used very different skills to do so. Why did you choose to support The REME Charity?

The main reason I choose to support The REME Charity is for the simple fact that if I need any help or support in the future, I believe they will be there for that. So anything I can do to support them I will, especially whilst I’m fit and healthy and able to play my part.