JADE MOORE Amateur authors invited to write the next chapter in the story of Beeston
Lose Your Armour
The Future's Write
I
f you’re reading this, you *probably* live in Beeston (although if you read the rest of this issue, you’ll find that’s not always the case). But, for those of you who live the majority of your life in this town, you’ll no doubt have thoughts and opinions of what you’d like the future of Beeston to hold. After all, this is the place we call home, it’s pretty important. So if you’re a budding blogger, willing writer and far-sighted futurist as well as a proud Beestonian, you could see your name in print as part of a competition to write the next chapter in the rich history of Beeston. To celebrate their 120th anniversary, the family owned, family run business CP Walker & Son commissioned local historian and writer David Hallam to help them to tell and celebrate the story of Beeston over the period 1896-2016. The book is organised with chapters covering each decade from the 1890s to the 2010s. Now, having chartered the history of Beeston, Rex and Dan Walker have created this competition to look at how the town might develop in the 2020s.
As Rex explains, “We are keen supporters of community projects and initiatives that benefit the local population. Our book charts the ups and indeed the downs that Beeston has faced during its history. However, we then thought, what happens next? We were chatting about the future of the town with the various developments going on and realised there’s a whole new chapter to write, perhaps even a couple. Who better to write them than local people like us who love their town? That’s where the competition idea came from.” He continues: “Lots of people make New Year Resolutions to start writing or to rekindle their hobby, but getting published is too often out of reach. This a chance for people to share their ideas and their love for Beeston and to start a debate that will play a part in forming the next chapter of our town’s tale, perhaps even the next century.”
Continues...
If reading this has got your brain stirring with thoughts of what the future could hold or how you could implement your brilliant vision on the town, and you’re just itching to get writing, then here’s what you need to know before you put pen to paper: • • •
•
• • •
•
It’s 8pm on a Thursday and four of my friends are stood in front of a closed Waterstones while I jog up and down the side of the building, losing a game of charades with the oblivious bookseller inside. Twenty minutes later we are finally inside the Sillitoe Room, listening to a spectacular line up of poets here to support the main talent of the night: Chris McLoughlin and the launch of Lose Your Armour. Published through Nottingham’s indie Big White Shed, this 12-strongpoem chapbook reads like an open letter to those drowning in emotional struggle.
The competition is open to anyone with three age categories: Primary School, Secondary school and 16 plus. There’s no word limit per se, but you’re advised to try and stick to around 1000 words maximum if possible. Try and look to the future with a positive outlook, write something to stir the imagination and get people thinking about what comes next and how it can happen (We’re not talking pipe dreams here!) Entries will be judged by an independent panel of local people, chaired by Rex Walker and featuring Editor in Chief of The Beestonian Matt Turpin, Phillipa DythamDouble from Double Image Photography and David Hallam, author of ‘The Story of Beeston’. The deadline is April 23rd and entries are preferred via email to nextchapter@ cpwalker.co.uk If providing a hard copy entry, please post them to CP Walker & Son or drop it in to their office. Entrants must consent to having their work published and to taking part in any publicity around the competition should they win. For more information, visit cpwalker. co.uk/pages/nextchapter or the dedicated Facebook page at facebook. com/beestonthenextchapter.
This is a fantastic opportunity, so once you’ve extracted all the inspiration possible from reading the rest of this issue, get your futurethinking in gear, because you never know what it might lead to. Good luck, Beestonians! JM
POETRY ROUND-UP POTTLE POETRY
Free, every first Sunday of the month, Pottle of Blues micropub With plenty of open mic slots, this is a great way to spend a Sunday afternoon listening to (or performing) poetry.
WOMEN GOT TALENT POETRY NIGHT
Friday 1 March, Synergy NG9 19:00-22:30 £6 on the door All welcome (16+) A night of woman-powered poetry and spoken word. Includes an open mic slot. Email slcamplin100@gmail.com for more info.
The Beestonian is... WORD! FEATURING ZENA EDWARDS
Friday 8 March, Beeston Library £7/£5 (booking advised) 16+ WORD! – one of the longest running poetry nights in the UK – returns to Beeston Library with an International Women’s Day special. To perform on the open mic email hello@wordpoetry.co.uk.
Lead Writer/Founder • Lord Beestonia Co-Founder/Resident Don • Prof J Editor • Christian Design & The Beest • Dan Business Manager • Jade History Editor • Joe Earp
Top-notch contributors this issue:
Matt Turpin, Dan Cullen, Scott Bennett, John Cooper, christopher Frost, Daisy Leverington, Debra Urbacz, Jade Moore, Ruby Porter, Isaac Seelochan, Jo Norcup, Lulu Davenport and Christopher Frost.
Stockists:
Berliner, The Hive, Rye, The Hop Pole, The Crown, The White Lion, The Star, Mish Mash Gallery, The Malt Shovel, Broadgate Laundrette, Bubba Tea, The Bean, Beeston Library, Cafe Roya, Metro, Beeston Marina Bar and Cafe, Attenborough Nature Reserve, The Pottle, Greenhood, Beeston Nursery, The Victoria, Canalside Heritage Centre, Beeston Community Shop (formally Thorntons), Oxfam Books, L’Oliva, Two Little Magpies, Local not Global, John Flynn Opticians, Out of this World, lots of hairdressers and suchlike. ... If you’d like to be a stockist, let us know by emailing thebeestonian@gmail.com
‘Dust Days’, which was performed in full at the launch, documents fourteen individual days or nights that begin with hedonistic behaviour and descends into helplessness and the deep pit of depression many of us have clawed our way out of. In particular, ‘Day 34’ is one run-on sentence of a disassociation episode in the Victoria Centre, before McLoughlin turns his attention to the reader, asking ‘Are you entertained now?’ The change of pace and directive almost makes me feel guilty for enjoying how expressive the bleakness is. As a reader, you want to hug the persona. As someone who suffers from mental health, you nod and continue to read. Back in the Sillitoe Room, I glance down the aisle of seats in the middle of Chris’s set to see friends faces full of sadness, awe, but most importantly, inspiration. Lose Your Armour screams, ‘if I can get through this, let my words help you get through yours’. FM
A hive of lives content Jeanie Barton By rail or by bus find Beckinsale and us Alight because Paul Smith met Edwin Starr in a bar Periodic Videos are viewed from afar It's chemistry! (Poliakoff knows) Beeston's the place to go. Siemens, Marconi, Bartons, Boots, Humber, Plessy Took roots Attenborough, Toton, Bramcote, Chilwell, Stapleford Offshoots Music is The Star as well! Hop around Oxjam - what a Boon.. Films at The White Lion Find Meadows in the room The Crown of our town? The people around That buzzing sound Of dreams and machines Past and present Our home A hive of lives content.