ANNUAL REVIEW 14TH OCTOBER 2009 AT NEUROSUPPORT
The annual review came this year and for me a time for me to at last do the thing I have been working on for the last now 8 months along with Gordon W. Milward, introduce Gordon and his book “Days of Hope” a book of poems for anyone who doesn’t know out there.
On the day itself I managed to be signing people in the building and making sure all that everyone knew where they were going and who they had to see, just a normal role of “Meeter and Greeter”
The week had started well as we went off to Radio Merseyside with Gordon and his wife Brenda Sally and I being walked through the station to meet the presenters and I think the talk went well for us on the night with Gordon reading from his soon to be published book.
Tuesday came and the call we both had been waiting for that the book was ready to collect from the printer, were we pleased when saw how the book has turned out we could not have wished for better.
I had written an introduction for Gordon for me to read out on Wednesday which I think took longer than the whole afternoon. I didn’t want to miss anyone out who had helped us on our way so I have included it!!
It is my pleasure to introduce Gordon Milward reading from his poetry book “Days of Hope” but first a little background as to how we come to be here today.
Around February this year Gordon and myself sat outside in the foyer talking, if I remember right about nothing in particular when Gordon raised the subject of his poetry and how he would like to leave something behind when he left this earth, by that he meant publishing his poems in a book, his dream. At the time I thought it would be a good idea to help him do this, as I had had some experience in getting a grant for a support group,” how hard can it be getting a book published” As an ex licensee and Gordon, an ex fitter welder we had lots of experience in book publishing. Didn’t we!
We would be told in August that Gordon’s poetry “does not appear to have an artistic track record” by The Arts Council after first appearing in April that we could apply for a grant from them.
As part of the grant we had to supply 10% of the total cost of publishing the book, with quotes that ranged from £6500 to £2500, I put my thoughts to raising that money. As part of that Neurosupport via Maureen Kelly, clients, volunteers and staff walked through the Mersey Tunnel on 19th July and raised around £1500 towards Neurosupport and to help Gordon realise his dream, so thank you to everyone who sponsored us, walked or were involved. I also asked for help from the WCNN via Karen Dawber director of nursing and Louise Douglas head of Marketing and Communications who said that they would help with some funds, as well as the Parkinson’s Central branch Liverpool the committee and Brenda Carson, the chairperson who said they would also help with funds. So now we had 3 partners in our little venture, the plan was coming together, how could we fail?
After the rejection from The Arts Council I sent the 2 page proposal that I had put together to various people in the hope that we would get some help. One of those people is sitting in this room today, Dave Ward of the Windows project who to say has helped us a lot is an understatement.
The Windows Project, Nothing to do with Microsoft! by the way, The Windows Project has been making poetry fun, helping children to start writing and providing support and advice for poetry writing by and with all ages and abilities as an everyday activity since 1976.
The annual review came this year and for me a time for me to at last do the thing I have been working on for the last now 8 months along with Gordon W. Milward, introduce Gordon and his book “Days of Hope” a book of poems for anyone who doesn’t know out there.
On the day itself I managed to be signing people in the building and making sure all that everyone knew where they were going and who they had to see, just a normal role of “Meeter and Greeter”
The week had started well as we went off to Radio Merseyside with Gordon and his wife Brenda Sally and I being walked through the station to meet the presenters and I think the talk went well for us on the night with Gordon reading from his soon to be published book.
Tuesday came and the call we both had been waiting for that the book was ready to collect from the printer, were we pleased when saw how the book has turned out we could not have wished for better.
I had written an introduction for Gordon for me to read out on Wednesday which I think took longer than the whole afternoon. I didn’t want to miss anyone out who had helped us on our way so I have included it!!
It is my pleasure to introduce Gordon Milward reading from his poetry book “Days of Hope” but first a little background as to how we come to be here today.
Around February this year Gordon and myself sat outside in the foyer talking, if I remember right about nothing in particular when Gordon raised the subject of his poetry and how he would like to leave something behind when he left this earth, by that he meant publishing his poems in a book, his dream. At the time I thought it would be a good idea to help him do this, as I had had some experience in getting a grant for a support group,” how hard can it be getting a book published” As an ex licensee and Gordon, an ex fitter welder we had lots of experience in book publishing. Didn’t we!
We would be told in August that Gordon’s poetry “does not appear to have an artistic track record” by The Arts Council after first appearing in April that we could apply for a grant from them.
As part of the grant we had to supply 10% of the total cost of publishing the book, with quotes that ranged from £6500 to £2500, I put my thoughts to raising that money. As part of that Neurosupport via Maureen Kelly, clients, volunteers and staff walked through the Mersey Tunnel on 19th July and raised around £1500 towards Neurosupport and to help Gordon realise his dream, so thank you to everyone who sponsored us, walked or were involved. I also asked for help from the WCNN via Karen Dawber director of nursing and Louise Douglas head of Marketing and Communications who said that they would help with some funds, as well as the Parkinson’s Central branch Liverpool the committee and Brenda Carson, the chairperson who said they would also help with funds. So now we had 3 partners in our little venture, the plan was coming together, how could we fail?
After the rejection from The Arts Council I sent the 2 page proposal that I had put together to various people in the hope that we would get some help. One of those people is sitting in this room today, Dave Ward of the Windows project who to say has helped us a lot is an understatement.
The Windows Project, Nothing to do with Microsoft! by the way, The Windows Project has been making poetry fun, helping children to start writing and providing support and advice for poetry writing by and with all ages and abilities as an everyday activity since 1976.
We first met Dave in early August with Gordon’s poems in a file; he gave us lots of advice on the layout, contents and how it should be done. He also put us in touch with Colin Molyneux and Ian Whittaker of Graphic Print in Liverpool. When we first met Colin and Ian I knew we were in safe hands after talking to them both. Colin with Ian’s help, put together a quote that to say is cheap is an understatement but helping the community is also one of Colin’s aims so thank you to all 3 of you Dave, Colin, Ian, not forgetting Neurosupport,The Walton Centre, the Liverpool central Branch of Parkinson’s along with Sian Roberts of Parkinson’s HQ who helped us get the quote from Ray Kennedy the ex Liverpool player who played from 1974-1982 who himself was diagnosed with Parkinson’s aged 35, this quote appears on the front of the book. “Gordon’s poems are an inspiring insight into his experiences with Parkinson’s. I wish him well on his Journey”
A couple of other people to thank are Gordon’s doctor at the WCNN, a Dr Steiger, Consultant Neurologist and Simon Curran Honorary Lecturer in Physiotherapy of Liverpool University who both wrote the introductions for the book.
It has been a rocky road in lots of places and now we know a bit more about paper and books than we did before. The book “Days of Hope” will be on sale after the meeting for £3.00 with all the money raised going to charity, which is all the 3 partners involved as well as “The Ray of Hope Appeal”
Well here we are with the man himself our very own poet laureate Gordon Milward reading from his very own book of poems “Days of Hope” his dream now realised.
The meeting seemed to go in a moment where I was still sitting outside when all the speakers were on so I managed to miss most, apart from the Q&A from the floor when Jonathan Shaw MP
At the meeting which was attended by Jonathan Shaw MP, Minister for Disability who was giving a talk on Access to Work programme and the Lord Mayor of Liverpool, Mike Storey CBE. I managed to talk to the minister at length about the book and how it came to be published and he now has a copy along with Mike Storey, the deputy Mayor of Wirral along with Julia Denham of the Care Quality Commission another speaker.
Then we went on to the poetry and reading from Julia and Stella followed by yours truly and the speech that seemed to go on.
A couple of other people to thank are Gordon’s doctor at the WCNN, a Dr Steiger, Consultant Neurologist and Simon Curran Honorary Lecturer in Physiotherapy of Liverpool University who both wrote the introductions for the book.
It has been a rocky road in lots of places and now we know a bit more about paper and books than we did before. The book “Days of Hope” will be on sale after the meeting for £3.00 with all the money raised going to charity, which is all the 3 partners involved as well as “The Ray of Hope Appeal”
Well here we are with the man himself our very own poet laureate Gordon Milward reading from his very own book of poems “Days of Hope” his dream now realised.
The meeting seemed to go in a moment where I was still sitting outside when all the speakers were on so I managed to miss most, apart from the Q&A from the floor when Jonathan Shaw MP
At the meeting which was attended by Jonathan Shaw MP, Minister for Disability who was giving a talk on Access to Work programme and the Lord Mayor of Liverpool, Mike Storey CBE. I managed to talk to the minister at length about the book and how it came to be published and he now has a copy along with Mike Storey, the deputy Mayor of Wirral along with Julia Denham of the Care Quality Commission another speaker.
Then we went on to the poetry and reading from Julia and Stella followed by yours truly and the speech that seemed to go on.
So now that journey for us both has finished me to sleep and gordon has now left something behind on this earth.
ALL WE HAVE TO DO NOW IS SELL THEM
OUR NEXT PROJECT IS SANTA AND HIS DASHING THROUGH THE SNOW WELL AROUND THE STREETS OF LIVERPOOL BUT IT'S FOR A GOOD CAUSE
