Thursday 29 May 2014

Historic Fleetwood. Lighthouses three - but lots more to write about by the sea.




Workshop five of Walking on Wyre will take place in the Burton Room at The North Euston Hotel on Saturday 31st may.  We meet at 10:30am and after settling in, anyone who wants to take a stroll around this historic town will experience The Mount Pavillion - still standing proud as one of the best vantage points to see the view of the Lakeland mountains across Morecambe Bay.  The view from Top Hill was the inspiration for the layout of the Victorian town plan, the brainchild of Peter Hesketh Fleetwood and the architect Decimus Burton. 


As always, for those unable to take the walk, there are research books and pamplets in the workroom to keep you occupied. I hope that some participants will come across on the ferry to join in the fun. Please dress for the weather, layers and suitable footwear. There will be a break for lunch - packed or cafe,  as you like and the day will end at 4.30 pm.

Three lighthouses were built to secure safe passage into the harbour.  They are still here: two magnificent monuments to Decimus Burton and 
The Wyre Light, a skeletal remnant of better days.  











"And as the evening darkens, lo! how bright, 
Through the deep purple of the twilight air, 
Beams forth the sudden radiance of its light 
   With strange, unearthly splendor in the glare!"

Henry Wadsworth Longfellow

About the workshop with Adele Robinson

"It is my love of structure and order that drew me to tutor my own workshop in Fleetwood, for me the jewel in the crown of Wyre. This is where the River Wyre greets the Irish Sea and two great waters dance together in celebration to the backdrop of magnificent buildings. 

Our Walking on Wyre journey from Garstang along the Wyre Way to this point has been diverse in both landscape and personalities. At Fleetwood I hope to tap into the Victorian heritage of the town, her purpose then and her development into one of the Nation's greatest fishing ports.  More than that I want to inspire you all to look outwards and see Fleetwood not just as a giant of the past but as an exciting prospect for future generations to enjoy. 

I am current Wyre Poet in Residence and have enjoyed my research, getting to know the town and the people who live and work here. I hope that many of you will come along to the workshop to share your stories and let me tease out pieces that you will be proud to have published and perhaps perform at events later in the project. Other particpants will see the town through new eyes and perhaps we can fuse the two perspectives to create prose and poetry that will excite the reader for years to come." 


Enquiries to Adele - email : walkingwyre@gmail.com

Tuesday 27 May 2014

This week - double whammy! We have two of everything. Two events, two venues and two great creative writing tutors.

Iconic Rossall Point 



The next workshop is on Wednesday 28th May at Rossall Point.  Meet with Shaun Bookes in the car park at 1.30pm and take a short walk to this incredible building.  Wyre Coastal Rangers and volunteers will be on hand to steer participants through using the telescopes and if you are unable to use the stairs, a camera is linked to a TV monitor so that you can share the viewing experience. Weather permitting we will walk on the beach a little.  It always very windy at the point, so please wear extra layers and suitable footwear.  There is a seating area inside for a warm drink and the writing workshop.  The perfect spot to watch the tide roll in before we finish at 4.30pm.

About Shaun's Workshop

"Just down the coast from where the Wyre meets the sea, we're gathering at Rossall Point. With the wonderful views across the shoreline, the rooftop webcam and the assortment of migratory birds we'll be taking a chance to reflect on the journey of the river as it reaches its destination. To get the creative mind going we'll be taking a short walk along the promenade and then, just as the breakers control the tide, there will be several starter tasks to ease participants in. Making use of the wonderfully positioned viewing station the aim is to then create poetry in celebration of the surroundings, taking into account all of the sensory factors that can pass us by on such a rich and diverse coastline with its many differing stories and features. Workshop participants will be encouraged to forge their initial ideas onto paper before exploring their piece further and honing it into a tide polished piece."


Many of the photographs used on this site were commissioned by Walking on Wyre and taken by Barry McCann. 

Rossall Beach
Enquiries to Adele - walkingwyre@gmail.com