Who's Who in the Derbyshire Scribes...
Put faces to names and find out a bit about our members
We are an eclectic group with a common love of the written word. Some of us actually prefer reading to writing. Some have a propensity for poetry, others are short story enthusiasts. There are those who are writing non-fiction such as local history, and there are a few reaching out towards the holy grail of a published novel.
Christine
Our leader and cracker of whips (metaphorically speaking)
She tries to write something each day, short stories mainly and poetry, when inspired. Her biggest claim to fame so far: winning a toowrite.com competition in 2002 and publication in: "The Lady."™ Her hobbies are: reading, dancing (Salsa, Argentine Tango and Latin), cycling, listening to music, going to the theatre and travelling when funds allow. She is a member of a book group and has attended various writing classes. She is currently studying with Open University and begins a Creative Writing course shortly. Admits to being 39! Derbyshire Scribes evolved from an idea she had to beat writers block.
Sandra
Keeper of the Keys to the Treasury
Sandra is sixty years old and married to Peter (see below.) She has lived in Bolsover all her life. An ex-Post Office worker (Pensions Administration), her interests include music and travel in the
Peter
A sixty-one
year old former teacher, Peter is married
to Sandra our Treasurer. His interests include: wild-life, nature, golf,
bell-ringing, voluntary work in the community, reading poetry and
fiction; writing mainly poetry; travel and grandchildren. He has written short stories
and poems
on and off for 40 years. Peter has
taken part
in poetry/art programmes on local radio and had his own half hour
poetry slot
on Radio Sheffield. Short
stories
include 'The Pie' and 'Rabbits' which were broadcast, as well as his
play 'Winter'. He writes poetry
and publicity
material for SSAFA Forces
Help
(Soldiers, Sailors, Airmen and Families Association.)
Lesley
Nom de plume:
Clara
Kitson is new to writing. She
has always
wanted to write and since retiring from a career with social and caring
services she feels that she has a wealth of experience from which to
draw and
has started to experiment with character vignettes - at times poignant
but often
peppered with humour. Has
attended writing
classes in
Terry
In December
2007, Terry finally retired as a part time taxi driver
after retiring from his "proper" job many years ago.
He has had various jobs including chemist's
assistant, National Service, haulage hand with National Coal Board and
worked
for the Post Office for 33 years.
In
addition to the Derbyshire Scribes he currently attends 2 writing
classes and a book group.
He has
attended various writing courses at
Jayne
Jayne works as an Assistant Area Administrator for Derbyshire County Council's Adult Education Service. She attended Creative Writing classes for several years and enjoys writing short stories and poetry. She had a book of verse published but says "Unfortunately the publishers went into liquidation very shortly afterward, owing me the princely sum of £10!" She is a qualified Counsellor and has done voluntary counselling at a local college. She joined Derbyshire Scribes in an attempt to motivate herself to write creatively again whilst enjoying the company of like-minded people. Her other interests include reading, walking her dog, making jewellery, holistic therapies and spiritual development.
Dave
Born
in
Hollingwood,
BRENDA
A
survivor of the Sheffield Blitz. Much
of her childhood was spent visiting
Derbyshire where she has lived since 1978.
With careers in Education, Social Responsibility and
Social Care, she is
used to writing official reports, reviews, research and also staff
development
/ training manuals, rather than creative writing. Caring
for her aged mother 24/7 she finds writing
poetry is therapeutic. Her
other
interests include historical enquiry, her great grand children, theatre
visits
and, when time allows, long haul travels to the Far East and
CJ
A
retired vet who is interested in complementary therapies
and healing. Retirement seemed to strip him of his identity but he is
currently
at the gateway of a new life. He owns his own boat and his ambition is
to sail
to
Eva
Eva was born
on Ilkley Moor, but now lives in
Michael
Michael was born in
Julie
Julie has lived in and around Chesterfield all her life. She will admit to being as young as she can get away with. She's single with two cats to keep her company. She has not been lucky enough to have anything published as yet, but lives in hope. She has had two ten minute plays performed, also acting in one of them. She attends two writing courses per term in Chesterfield, and has also attended a creative writing course last summer at Ruskin College in Oxford which she really enjoyed. Her other interests include Social and local history and computer studies.
Roland
Roland plucked up the courage
to attend a creative writing course well into his second half-century. There he met other founder members of
Derbyshire Scribes and found himself part of a thriving network. His career in Information Systems and banking sounds quite boring, but it
provided him with the chance to see the world. He has lived in the
He is to blame for this website and has done much of the work on publicity posters/flyers etc. calling on experience gained at NEDCASH publishing a thriving newsletter and publicity for self-help groups. (NB the newsletter has a spot for a short story and/or a poem most months.)
