Jerome

WARNING: ADULT CONTENT. The interview contains swearing, and descriptions of abuse and violence.

Jerome chats with Stoke-on-Trent indie author Jo Haywood about KNAVE, her second book.

Jo tells Jerome about her long-standing passion for writing fiction, hints at her fascination with all things paranormal, and she plugs Stoke Indoor Market - where she used to be employed as manager.

Jo has a book signing event at the indoor market on Saturday 1st April, 10am to 12pm.

Find out more about Jo, and order books, on her website:

https://johaywoodauthor.co.uk/welcome

Read more on the North Staffs News website, here: https://northstaffs.news/podcast-knave-with-stoke-on-trent-indie-author-jo-haywood

I set myself a challenge of photographing as many species of bumblebee as I could find in one day.

I trekked through fields, a former golf course, nature reserve and country park in Silverdale, and along a trail into Newcastle-under-Lyme town centre.

These are my thoughts and observations recorded along the way.

Can we do more to help our bumblebees? Where are they doing best? How many species did I manage to photograph?

Take a look at the photographs from the day here:

https://jeromew.uk/jeromes-bumblebee-challenge

“My nickname is Birdman. So, I use birds in all of my work. For me, birds can travel the world without thinking of borders, you know? Something I don't have the luxury of.”

Semaan Khawam is artist-in-residence at Allison Lochhead’s ‘Art for Peace’ exhibition, showing at Appetite’s Astley Walk arts space in Newcastle-under-Lyme.

He tells me more about the inspiration for his sculptures and paintings, and why he can never return to the place of his birth, Syria.

More about Appetite's Art for Peace exhibition here: https://www.appetite.org.uk/event/art-for-peace-by-alison-lochhead/

"It turns out with Newcastle-under-Lyme that the market's been one of the main things for the culture of the place," says Kidda.

Kidda Kinsey is one of five artists and illustrators commissioned by Appetite to create 'Maps in March'.

"These maps will build on our original town centre map created by Chloe Breeze and explore the specific themes of nature, independent businesses, markets, food and drink outlets and feeling safe within the town centre," says Appetite.

Kidda was talking to Jerome Whittingham. Jerome has been commissioned by Appetite to report on activities at their Newcastle Common arts space.

Find out more about Appetite's Maps in March project here:

https://www.appetite.org.uk/event/maps-in-march-at-newcastle-common/

SUBSCRIBE to North Staffs News email bulletin here: https://www.getrevue.co/profile/northstaffsnews

"My interest in Maps in March is looking at the green spaces in Newcastle-under-Lyme town centre, and uncovering some of the stories about some of the trees in particular that are around the town centre, and in the parks and along the walkways, to bring out people to just appreciate what's around them," says Su.

Su Hurrell, Ladybird Su, is one of five artists and illustrators commissioned by Appetite to create 'Maps in March'.

"These maps will build on our original town centre map created by Chloe Breeze and explore the specific themes of nature, independent businesses, markets, food and drink outlets and feeling safe within the town centre," says Appetite.

Su was talking to Jerome Whittingham. Jerome has been commissioned by Appetite to report on activities at their Newcastle Common arts space.

Find out more about Appetite's Maps in March project here:

https://www.appetite.org.uk/event/maps-in-march-at-newcastle-common/

SUBSCRIBE  to North Staffs News email bulletin here: https://www.getrevue.co/profile/northstaffsnews

Ceramic artist Rita Floyd was specially selected by The Great Pottery Throw Down judge Keith Brymer Jones to be artist-in-residence during his recent Life, Clay and Everything exhibition for Appetite.

Keith's exhibition ran from 5th to 26th February at Appetite's Newcastle Common arts space.

Jerome caught up with Rita to chat, and to get a hands-on demonstration of her fabulous flower-making skills.

He made a daisy!

More about Appetite and Keith's exhibition here: https://www.appetite.org.uk/event/life-clay-everything-by-keith-brymer-jones/

Jerome has been commissioned by Appetite to report on activities at their Newcastle Common arts space.

Siobhan McAleer, artist and community curator, is the creative force behind The Depository of the Dull. It’s a project delivered jointly by Appetite and the Brampton Museum, and it’s inviting you to ‘bring in your objects and tell us your stories’.

Siobhan said: “The Depository of the Dull was made as a virtual museum in lockdown last year. I invited people to tell us about some everyday objects that they had been looking at while they'd been in their houses. We called it the Depository of the Dull. It's kind of a play on words or a joke, I guess. The thing is,neverything is supposed to look as though it's not very interesting, but then has a really interesting story that goes along with it.

“For this project, the Depository of the Dull, I'm working at Newcastle Common, which is Appetite’s base in the town centre, and alongside the Brampton Museum, and what we're doing is asking people to bring in their everyday objects, with interesting stories associated in some way to Newcastle.”

Listen to Jerome's full chat with Siobhan, ‘Shiv’, in this podcast. She tells us what’s already been offered to the collection, gives examples of the stories attached to some of the items, and explains how we can get involved.

You can also find out more about The Depository of the Dull by visiting Appetite’s website, here: https://www.appetite.org.uk/event/the-depository-of-the-dull-at-newcastle-common/

Get in-touch with Shiv and the Depository of the Dull with details of your deposit at [email protected]

Jerome has been commissioned by Appetite to report on activities at their Newcastle Common arts space.

Light Over Winter is Appetite’s latest offering at their Newcastle Common venue, in Newcastle-under-Lyme town centre, North Staffordshire.

It’s an exhibition of photographs by 14 local photographers who’ve taken part in workshops lead by Grain photography hub.

I went along to a bustling preview event (Thursday 6th January 2021) to meet some of the workshop leaders and a number of the photographers who were clearly very excited to see their images on a gallery wall.

The Light Over Winter exhibition is open for visitors at the Newcastle Common space on the High Street in Newcastle-under-Lyme town centre.

It runs until Saturday 29th January, 11am to 4pm Tuesday to Saturday.

Find out more about this exhibition and  Appetite’s work by visiting their website - https://www.appetite.org.uk/event/light-over-winter-exhibition/

Jerome has been commissioned by Appetite to report on activities at their Newcastle Common arts space.

Poet Jennifer Spice invites children and others to take a walk and to talk about nature.

She’s been engaging with children from Crescent Primary School, Stoke-on-Trent, in a series of workshops to “feel a bit of nature, pick up a stone, connect with nature, read some poetry in nature, do some breathing in nature.”

In this podcast episode Jennifer tells how the children respond to new experiences of the natural world, and how they’ve been inspired to write poetry together. She also shares several of her poems.

“Nature, thinking, then writing prose, journaling and poetry, have been my mainstay to self-help therapy, to get well, maintain well, and grow well,” said Jennifer.

Jenn is a wave of infectious energy. She delights in the shape of clouds, the buzzing of insects, the vibrancy of Nature’s palette. She aims to live in each moment, to enjoy each moment, mindfully and fully. Her writing helps her to record the moments that a camera would miss.

June and Annette are challenging company. They challenge us to think positively about Burslem.

We met in the Market Place Cafe, just opposite the former Burslem town hall.

For about an hour they spoke passionately about their home town – the ‘mother town’ of the potteries – its history, its characters, its architecture, its future.

“Annette calls me mother,” said June.

The friend that introduced me to June and Annette calls them both ‘the mothers of the mother town’. They speak of Burslem with both love and affection.

“We have an excellent community,” said June. “It always comes together for anything. It’s a beautiful old town.”

June and Annette are leading members of ‘Our Burslem’, a community action group which promotes Burslem, putting on events in the town, and co-ordinating a large and vocal social media presence, on facebook in particular.

Their mission is not political, or rather not ‘party political’. Actually, the group demonstrates a ‘pure’ democracy, being a movement of diverse people uniting in action and voice to affect change in their community.

“It’s not about politics,” said Annette. “It’s about doing the right thing.”

Maybe that is politics?

The Our Burslem group’s aim is to tell others that the town is something worth shouting about.

Annette said: “I think we need to reinvent ourselves as a town, as a destination town… In Stoke-on-Trent people need to be proud of where they come from, it makes a difference… I want people to realise there’s beauty in this town, it just needs some love, care, thought, and innovation – that goes back to Wedgwood… What are we going to do with it, to make it the place to be?

“Would you know this is the place where Wedgwood was born? Is that not the easiest solution to get tourism into the city?”

Annette, on behalf of the Our Burslem group, has recently nominated three of the town’s buildings to be considered for the Victorian Society’s ‘Top Ten Most Endangered Buildings’ list, in the hope of attracting regeneration and renovation funding.

In our on-street podcast interview she talks about the three buildings she’s nominated: The Wedgwood Institute; the indoor market; and The Central – all on Queen Street.

“There’s no harm in trying to make it – Burslem – better again,” concludes Annette.

We’d be fools to disagree.