June Oldham - Author Visits

Talks
The subject matter can range from
a) a talk about my own writing, including readings and answering questions,
to b) a question and answer session,
or c) a close discussion of a particular book.

Writing seminars/workshops

Here the emphasis is on assisting the group with their own writing, or helping them to begin. There are many forms such a session can take, for example concentrating on one particular element in the process. Naturally, during the course of the workshop, adjustments are made to the needs and experience of the participants.

Talks

A book from the first twinge of an idea to publication, with lots of supporting material. There is plenty of opportunity for the children to participate and ask questions. The talk can be adjusted to age so that it is possible to consider issues such as editing and censorship with older pupils.

The aim is to help children enjoy writing and to avoid imitation; to encourage their imagination and confirm the validity of their feelings and experience.

I can work in specific areas such as character, senses, myth, comedy, landscape.

Alternatively, work in progress can be reinforced or a particular project can be initiated or developed.

In order to derive the greatest benefit from a workshop a thorough discussion with the organiser is desirable. Thus subject, level of work and aims are agreed before we begin.

The following writing and photographs record a short period, April 2 & 3 2007, when I worked with year seven pupils attending Laisterdyke Business and Enterprise College, Bradford. The first day was spent in mid Wharfedale and the second back in the classroom where they wrote from the experience.

Wharfedale, in the Yorkshire Dales.

The Wharfedale in the Yorkshire Dales is a calm and peaceful environment where you can just relax and have a rest. It is better than Bradford as it has less traffic and more spacious countryside. When I got off the minibus I felt the cool and relaxing breeze of the Yorkshire Dales.

It was an experience I have never done before and I assure you it was one of the best as the Yorkshire Dales was a open piece of land which was full of greenery and animals.

In the Yorkshire Dales there is one big river called the River Wharfe and this river had many uses whether it be providing power or whether it be for fun the river Wharfe in my opinion is one of the best rivers I know of.

I loved the beach because there was many activities to do such as sandcastle making or just throwing stones one thing is for certain you can take your children to the Yorkshire Dales and they never get bored.

Sohail Iftakar and Farhan Hussain

The Waterfall

We were chasing after furry sheep. They ran away. Everyone enjoyed their self. But what I liked best is waterfall and rock. The wobbly bridge was big. We were high up on the bridge. We could see the stone and water. We were chucking stones in the dark water they were splashing in the water. When we got over the bridge it was scary and wobbly and the water was splashing. We were happy to get off the bridge.

Nagina Kausar

The River Side

The water fall is noisy and soft and the water is smooth and heavy. You can't see fish. The waterfall is nice and magic and fish hide in the shadows and ducks swimming on the water together. The water fall sparkles in your eye. The lambs play games and sleep together there are fat and thin sheep. The countryside is really quiet and I saw trees without leaves for they haven't grown yet. It was a really sunny day and a bit windy, some of the water was calm and steady. The grass was so green. I threw some stones in the river. I thought that the birds swimming in the river together was nice

Sarah Quirk

Thoughts of John Lee --- murderer's son

I don't find it easy living in Grassington, father has made it hard for us all even though it's been twelve years since his death. I wish he hadn't murdered Dr. Petty! Mother can't stand even going to the shops, so I go for her. The townsfolk raise fingers at me and talk about me. An old woman started yelling "Oh that's John Lee the guy's father murdered Dr. Petty!"

Mother is so poor that we can't afford moving and she get no respect in this village. Father's body is still in that wretched gibbet. The birds have pecked his body to bits. I went to see the state of it yesterday. It was awful. I bet it'll stay there for the next year or so. I couldn't bear standing near it for five seconds so I hid in the bushes and watched people throwing stones at it!

No one will give me a job and we need money to live. We're hardly managing by selling all our belongings! Soon we'll be homeless beggars with nowhere to go. I'm thinking of going to a far away country and changing my name and appearance, but for that I need money and money is something I just don't have!

Huma Aiman

Feelings of John, son of Tom Lee, murderer

I can't believe that my father was a murderer, everybody thinks that but I don't.

All I know about my father is that he has been hanging in our village from the gibbet since the day he died, must be about 12 or 13 years now, but I still love him. I've seen birds eating my father, how dare they.

Everybody here hates me because of who my father was, but what can I say? I don't know if what they say is true or not. I wish my father was alive then I wouldn't be alone, I'd have friends. I wish we could move away but my mother can't afford it. I wish I wasn't who I am.

Zeeshan Shahid

From John, son of Tom Lee

I cry myself to sleep every night. I always think about my father, wishing he was still alive. Why did he have to kill Dr. Petty? Why? Mother doesn't do anything but weave and sit in her rocking chair day dreaming. If you ask her to do something she nods and just carries on weaving. I bring her her dinner, breakfast and supper and she just takes the plate, not saying one word, not even one thank you, she takes me for granted. I do the shopping, I only buy half a loaf of bread with a bit of homemade lard. Everyone stares at me. What did I do wrong?

Is it my fault father is dead? They act as if I killed Dr. Petty. When I go past dads gibbet which is where he was hanged and feel like doing sick I quickly scurry away like a rat. The pards and other animals eat his meat. To me that is discusting.

Sadar Bibi

Feelings of John, son of Tom Lee, murderer

I can't believe that my dad was a murderer but I don't think my dad was. I do know that my dad is hanging from the gibbet in Grassington for about 13/14 years. Every time I go past their I fall to tears because I see birds pecking at my dad and eating his flesh and drinking his blood. I get very angry when I see that so I try scaring them away or sometimes even throwing something at them

... and feelings of Joan, widow of Tom Lee

Every time I go into a shop I get stared at and always being called murderer but I just ignore them. I want to go and live somewhere else but I haven't got the money for it. I am very poor. I have no money at all not even a guiny and if I go and beg for money they wont give me it because they know that my husband killed Doctor Petty. Well I think he killed him for his family, he needed money for his family so that is why I think that he killed Doctor Petty.

Zakir Rehman

Thoughts of Joan Lee, murderer's wife.

I, Joan Lee was the wife of Tom Lee. I can't excuse his behaviour. It was outrageous. At first I couldn't quite believe it when I heard. He was such a gentleman. But I didn't know that his greed over money would one day cause him to murder someone. My life is ever more terrible. Every time I go to the shop I have someone call me something Terrible. My boy John can't bare the thought of his dad killing someone. The day my son was baptised was the day my husband was hanged and placed on a gibbet at Grass Wood. Everytime I go past that place I feel as though I am not worthy of a place in this world because of my husband's actions. There are bits of skin hanging of his body and birds pecking at his body.

Sidra Saddique

My hanged husband!!!

I was horrified as soon as I saw my husband hanging from the tree but I was shocked from what Tom did I just cant belive it! He murdered DR. Petty. I feel very lonely without Tom around and it is difficult for me to look after my little boy. He doesn't know about his father. I daredent tell him. I dont let him go enywhere I'm affraid someone might shout at him for Tom's behaviour I would never let that happen, not in a million years. My sister does all the shopping I don't go enywhere I feel like I am trapped a box and I can not get out. I just cant face it one look at the body I burst in to tears. If I ever over come this fear then people might hurt me for what my husband Tom did. I feel so ashamed. Why did it have to be my husband that murdred DR. Petty? It's just not fair. People say my husband haunt's the woods and so does DR. Petty but others say they don't I dont know who to belive!

Mollie Davey

The Wonderful World of Nature

The water flows fast and slow

Hitting the rocks as it goes

The soft sound is so sweet

Of splashing water beneath your feet.

The grassy fields spread across the land

By the deep river and the golden sand.

The little baby lambs run in the wide open space

Running and jumping at there own pace.

The ducks swim past in the cool river

Swimming away as they quiver.

Brown and blue are the females

Green and brown are the males.

But best of all is kept for last

Though the river passing fast.

The stepping stones are large and wide

Stepped on by people many times.

Saba Kazmi

The Hungry Sheep and Quacking Ducks

The little lambs were so cute just the size to pick up and cuddle. They would be smooth and soft and they were wriggly. They were running so fast to their mums. We were chasing. The sheep with horns stayed on the field and chewed muddy green grass. Baaaaaaaa.

We stood on the grass and the teachers told us about the stone towers and the ducks were waddling to listen. We shooed them and they flew away quacking.

Maleeha Sheikh

Yorkshire Dales Poem

The rivers at Linton are long and wide

With stepping stones on the sides

Water fall flowing all around

Making a softening sound

The fish are swimming by

Jumping ever so high.

I wonder why?

For us it may seem bright

However for the children it was a fright.

They worked all day

With no pay

At Linton mills they wove and spun

All day, from dawn to dusk.

How do you think they felt?

The Yorkshire Dales are big and wide

There's plenty of space to hide

Green trees and grass filling the space

Quiet and peaceful with no trace

Not much people or cars

Not many shops or bars.

Would you like to be there?

Sheep's and lambs wondering about

People have no doubt

The villages are small

The church's towers are tall

Interesting legends to be known

Great views to be seen.

What would you like to see there?

Aleeza Yaqoob