THE KATES HILL PRESS, DUDLEY, ENGLAND

PREVIOUS NEWS 2006

31/12/06: RECORD YEAR FOR THE KATES HILL PRESS
2006 has seen the Kates Hill Press break its previous record annual sales by over 100%.  Four new titles have appeared and two new authors.  These successes have been tempered by the loss of Irene M Davies and Clarice Hackett earlier in the year.  2007 will see even more tiles and more authors.

23/12/06:  A WICKED WIND BLOWIN' ON THE UPPER DECK
With the forecasters promising high winds and extreme weather, it was the Xmas special at the Lamp tonight. It started with Fizzog playing gate-crashing chavs and Johnny Green on the door, not in on the gag, wondering whether to throw them out or not.  Billy Spakemon came on next to start formal proceedings with a poem and a carol.  Greg Stokes came on to do the first part of Revenge of the Seth, a tale weaving together a number of his other live stories.  Audience participation included the Garden Shed Song and an a cappella Liquidator, characters included a chav Dalek.  A theme here, innit.  John Summerton gave us a new version of the 12 days of Christmas which took a wry look at the march of global capitalism and culminated in a cheeky rear end.  Ken Perry started his set with a song and went on with a collection of his wonderful Black Country poems.  Fizzog then took the stage as two mothers and two young chavs.  Brilliantly observed, marvalously performed and absolutely hilarious.  Pete Boddis and his band closed the half with his usual high standard of country style songs.  The second half opened with John Edgar.   Jean Paul Sartre, himself a Nobel Literature laureate, has described writers as the great usurpers, usurpers that is of the oral tradition of storytelling. John Edgar is living proof that the oral tradition is alive and kicking.  As a storyteller, John is the absolute best and it's all without notes. His main tale was of the monsters that lurk in the canals of Wolverhampton. Wonderful stuff.  Greg and Billy then performed Snowman II in which James is 17 and just out of therapy from his hallucinations about a snowman taking him to a party at the north pole.  Then it snows and a Scottish snowman is back... very ribald, another great English tradition from Saxon times.  Many of Ken Perry's poems are reworking of old jokes.  He came on next to give us more, and they went down a treat. Louise Stokes then read some poignant poems about a Christmas party at which suffering children were able to recognise the suffering of others.  Billy closed the night with a moving piece about an Oldbury family losing a son in Iraq at Christmas.  Greg joined Billy and everyone sang Santa Claus is coming to Town and then everyone went home. Greg Stokes said to John Summerton afterwards, "how do you write the headline for that?"  'John Edgar Storms It,' 'Billy Has Em In Tears,' 'Fizzog Have Em in Stitches,' 'Snowman Gets His Gal,' or maybe just 'Bluenose Bares Arse.'  Many thought it was an awesome night in many ways  but not everyone thought so and a storm has ensued.  Some may recognise the bones of a Dylan line in the headline eventually chosen and it may well be that the times they are a changing.

18/12/06:  CAROL HATHORNE FOR CARL CHINN SHOW
Carol Hathorne is to appear on the Carl Chinn Show on Sunday 14th May 2007.

17/12/06:  JOHN SUMMERTON ON CARL CHINN SHOW
This afternoon John Summerton appeared on the Carl Chinn Show on BBC Radio WM.  In a fascinating interview he talked about his book My Mate Stan which charts his personal odyssey as a Bluenose (Birmingham City supporter) through a history of their St Andrew's ground.  The club will be holding centenary celebrations for the stadium at the Boxing Day fixture against QPR. 

10/12/06:  GLYNIS AND SIMON WRIGHT FOR THE LAMP?
Greg Stokes caught up with Glynis Wright at Barnsley's Oakwell Stadium today.  Glynis is a prolific diarist on the baggies.com website and her book about the Albion's 2002 promotion season Dreaming of the Greed league was published by Bluechrome.  Her husband Simon Wright has just brought out West Brom's Cult Heros.  It is hoped Glynis and Simon will come and read for us at the Lamp in the new year, possibly the April show.  Watch this site for details.  

08/12/06: NEW TITLES - UPDATE
Draft copies of Carol Midwood's The Bawdy Bloody Black Country and Carol Ward's Happiness Is... have been sent to the authors for corrections.

06/12/06: GREG AND BILLY AT THE COMEDIAN
Billy Spakemon and Greg Stokes read at the Comedian pub in Tipton tonight.  It was the Christmas special organised by Smethwick band James Dean's Car.  It is hoped that roosterKateSpake will put shows on at the Comedian supplementary to the Lamp shows in the new year.  Watch this site for details.

19/11/06:  200 UP FOR GREG STOKES
The following from Greg's newsletter "Today I sat down and wrote Snowman II in readiness for the Christmas show.  James is a young man now, just out of therapy from his hallucinations about a snowman taking him to a party.  He's got the sort of things on his mind any young man of his age should have... You'll have to come to the show for the rest!  Snowman II was a bit of a milestone for me in that it saw the completion of my 200th short story.  Only another 100 and I'll be passin Maupassant (for the none literary, Guy de Maupassant was a prolific French short story writer.  I was reading him the time I penned my first one back in 1983 and remember thinking 'cow me - 300 this blokes wrote an I've just done one.  Well, cow me, another 100 and I've caught ya up chap.)"

18/11/06:  GREAT DAY IN WEST BROMWICH

From Greg Stokes's newsletter;  "Saturday saw Al Perry, Mac and myself join Len at the Vine in West Brom to be filmed as part of the leisure episode of the forthcoming Lenny's Britain series.  We were filmed in the pub talking old time and footie and consuming BBQ tikka and Banks's,  Suki and the staff at the pub looked after us really well as did the production team who in contrast to Thursday actually looked like television people.  Then it was off to the Hawthorns for Albion v Burnley.  We were to be on the Smethwick End.  I'd taken Al in in the wheelchair and went up to find the rest of them.  Len and Mac were still outside so we communed through the railings.  A really big bloke joined us and I mean big, if you are doing the toilet analogy then this bloke was a whole block not just a solitary karsi of brick construction.

Big Bloke: Yo Len! Ma missus is funnier than yoe.

Len: Don't start that, I get that at home.

Big Bloke: What yoe doin here?

Len: To see the Albion.

Big Bloke:  Am yoe Albion?

Len: Ar (yes)

Big Bloke: Am ya.  There's bin a rumour gooin round Smethwick for years as yoe'm from the dark side. (Wolves)

Once inside we witnessed Albion go 2 up in 8 minutes.  Clearly he'll have to come again. Now, part of the filming was about rituals like going for a cup of tay at half time - something I never do meself, but the cameraman went into the corner and Len walked along the track and out up the side.  Mac and I were meant to follow but were lagging behind along the track.  I was mindful of events on the pitch and Mac was halfway up the gully.  I'd stopped in the corner as Ellington was through and hit the bar - Carter netted the rebound and I was jumping around like a loony on the track in the corner so there you go, 51 and me best goal celebration ever, on the track at the corner of the Smethwick!

There had been people coming for autographs throughout the day and the stewards marshalled it all very well.  At the end of the match the departing crowd sang 'Lenny Lenny give us a wave' which he duly obliged.  They then sang 'Lenny do you hate the Wolves' to which he held his arm aloft and hollered 'yes!'  Then he turned to me and asked 'what have I just said yes to?'  I shrugged.  As yes was the right answer in this set of circumstances, the crowd now sang 'One Lenny Henry, there's only one Lenny Henry!' full wick which I thought was tremendous for him and pretty cool for the rest of us.  It had been the best part of 30 years since the 4 of us had been on the Hawthorns together and no, all those years ago, we'd never have dreamt of anything like that happening.  All in all, one brilliant day. A big thank you to the staff at the Baggies for looking after us so well, thanks to the police for their discrete watchful eye, and thanks to the production team for making it all happen.  I know it was filming, and it was work, but to me it was four mates who go back a long way doing something we maybe should have done together a long time ago but thoroughly enjoyed it when we did get round to it."

17/11/06:  GREAT NIGHT AT THE LAMP
Tonight saw the November instalment of the Cant & Cag night at the Lamp. Louise Stokes of Fizzogg made her solo debut reading from Marooned, a study through poetry of bullying in the NHS,  Kates Hill Press are to publish this next year. Greg Stokes read Doctor about when the Daleks came to Dudley as the one he's reading in the Xmas show is a spin off from it.  Emma Pursehouse, the Wolverhampton poet returned to deliver more of her well observed and incredibly funny work.  Billy Spakemon closed the half with a mixture of two funny poems and a serious song.  Emma and Louise returned for their 2nd sets before banjo playing Yvonne Parkes did a set of Apelation style songs, many of her own composition.  Special guest, local celebrity Phil Solomon closed the night with a stand up comedy act that had to be seen to be believed.  Greg was fool enough to sit at the front - apparently I used to have a quiff and was known as the Billy Fury of Dudley, now then.  Tremendous stuff, great night's entertainment that left punters and players buzzing.

16/11/06:  COMEDY MAP OF BRITAIN FILMING

From Greg Stokes's newsletter "The off and on filming for the show Comedy Map of Britain took place in front of Lenny Henry's old house at 2.00pm today.  I hadn't been down Douglas Road for some time and a car was parked in front of his old gaff, boot open and punters turning up to trade.  Then an M reg Merc estate pulled up and the east european mafia turned out.  This was the film crew.  Joking apart they were very professional and I was filmed leaning on the front of the Merc and in the middle of this quiet little street.  Then the broken down taxi rolled into shot which we had to push up Rollason Road.  Then the guy came back out, and fired up his other taxi, the engine of which he'd taken from a Lancaster bomber by the sound of it.  3/4 hour later the job was done, every bloody motorist in Dudley having detoured down Douglass Road in the time we were there it seemed, but what it was like when Len won New Faces was captured for posterity.  The crew who had come to Dudley to talk to Greg Stokes about Brum, then buggered off to film Ruth Maddock in Stoke to talk about Wales.  It's gonna be some show this.  Series starts, I'm led to understand on 14th Jan with the "Birmingham" episode going out on 28th. I kept on saying Black Country at every conceivable opportunity."

20/10/06:  LOUISE MARY STOKES TITLE AGREED
Greg Stokes met with writer and performer Louise Mary Stokes tonight and agreed to the publication of Louise's study of bullying in the NHS through poetry, Marooned.

20/10/06:  HAPPY BIRTHDAY RKS
Tonight Roosterkatespake marked their first year in existence with a show at the Lamp.  There were debuts for top poet Steve Clarke, and Richard Clay before Dohl Band, Azaad, from Wolverhampton took the stage to enthral the audience.  Billy Spakemon and Greg Stokes joined Steve and Richard with sets in the second half.

13/10/06:  GEOFF TRISTRAM LAUNCH
Greg Stokes and Billy Spakemon attended the launch of Geoff Tristram's Monet Trouble at the Dick Whittington Inn near Kinver tonight.

12/10/06:  FOOTIE FILMING?
Greg Stokes was contacted today by BBC director Sacha Mirzoeff regarding the Lenny's Britain programme and one of the episodes could involve Lenny being filmed at a football match.  More detail on this site as and when they unfold. 

04/10/06:  COMEDY MAP OF BRITAIN
A few weeks ago BBC2 made contact with Greg Stokes about a series called The Comedy Map of Britain.  The Birmingham show will cover New Faces and the rise to fame of Lenny Henry.  Greg was to be filmed this afternoon but rain delayed the schedule and ultimately it didn't take place.  Any further developments will be reported on this website.

01/10/06:  TOSSIE PATRICK WAR MEMORIES
About a month ago Tossie sent us a M/S of her war memories.  Not quite booklet length, we are considering how best to use it.  The possibility of using it in an anthology of such work is being discussed.  One of Tossie's short stories will appear on story of the week in the next week or so.

01/10/06:  A MORNING IN THE FOREST
Part of the idea of the exchange had always been to have a trip round the respective areas.  Concertina'd with book launches and the Baggies, we were unable to do that yesterday but at 10.00 am the BC contingent were given a tour of the Forest by David Price and local cider maker and character Ray Tosh.  Up hill and down dale, with views often breathtaking we passed cottages of local stone, and newer developments, saw local industrial enterprises.  We went through the towns of Cinderford and Coleford, through numerous villages, including Ruardean, where you mustn't ask about the bear, we'd learnt the night before.  We saw houses and cottages creeping up from a steep river valley where once there had been 15 forges.  We saw the sites of the old drift mines, now grown over, saw Puzzle Wood, site of the original Roman iron workings, saw the Forest itself and its sculpture trail, we saw the unobtrusive monument to Robert Mushet, the man who first produced commercial steel, only to be forgotten due to the commercial success of the Bessemer converter. This called to mind Dud Dudley who first smelted iron from coal, only to be largely overlooked in favour of the Darbys.  All the way round you could see it and sense it, here was very much a rural community on the surface, but one steeped with industrial heritage and endeavour.  One couldn't help but wonder what the Black Country would have looked like had not the industrial hamlets which made it up in its infancy been concreted over, and also how the Forest, to its good fortune, escaped that fate. The trip was rounded off with a look at Tosh's cider press high on the ridge at Littledean, with its absolutely breathtaking view over the Severn.  Then it was on to the Ship at Newnham for a sumptuous lunch and then sadly, it was time to bid our farewells.  One thing's for sure, we'll be back.  Many thanks to you all, and David Price in particular for your hospitality on what was a memorable weekend.   

30/09/06:  EVENT RAISES £600
Tonight's show at the Littledean House Hotel raised £600 for the Coleford Hospice.  Many thanks to David Price for his organisation of an excellent event and congratulations on the superb amount raised for a local forest charity.  

30/09/06:  HOT TIME IN THE HEART OF THE FOREST
Choosing to travel down straight from the Hawthorns we managed to avoid the worst of a nasty crash on the M5 that delayed most of the rest of the Black Country contingent.  We booked into the Littledean House Hotel at 6.45 and had time to freshen up before meeting our hosts David Price and Dave Harvey.  Dave presented us with a wooden sculpture of the two mythical Black Country characters Aynuck & Ayli.  By 7.15 the crowd had started to arrive and by 7.40 the place was packed.  No Billy Spakemon when the show kicked off early at 7.45 - we've yet to try that one at the Lamp - Dave Harvey taking the stage.  A word about the stage.  The event took place in the dining room of the Hotel, a huge room in four sections connected by wide arches.  Most performers positioned themselves in the mid point for maximum delivery to all sections and as they were working without PA, this was the best option.  Dave was every bit as brilliant on his own turf as he was at the Lamp. He also told of the Forest equivalent of Aynuck and Ayli, Jolter. Still no Billy.  Dick Bryce came on next with a selection of stories and songs.  Billy arrived mid set along with others from the BC, the M5 was down to a crawl now.  Greg Stokes went on next to regale the Forest with Doctor, a story of when the Daleks came to Dudley.  Forester Keith Morgan came on next with a set of poems and stories about George.  Billy Spakemon then came on with some stories and songs.  All the performers were enthusiastically received by an exceedingly appreciative audience. Interestingly, many of the Forest stories and jokes had their BC equivalent and the first half closed with the audience having celebrated the difference between two vibrant English cultures while reflecting the many similarities the two communities share in terms of humour and history.  In the break the audience enjoyed the sumptuous fayre put on by the Hotel, curry and ploughman’s, before the performers returned to enthral the audience further.  Famous son of the Forest said some 20years ago via the Singing Detective, that the dialect of the Forest had been dead for 20 years. Well, 40 years on, all I can say is that it is very much alive and kicking. More importantly, in a world in which differences are latched upon to divide us, many bridges were being built in that room, as they had been in the Lamp back in March. So the Forest of Dean and the Black Country have had their cultural exchange and it has been a huge success at both venues.  Such a success that one thing was very clear, we can't just leave it there.  The Foresters therefore will be coming back to the Lamp in March and we'll be returning to the Forest next autumn. In short, it looks like we have an annual event on our hands. 

30/09/06:  INTERLUDE AT THE HAWTHORNS
In between the book launch and the Forest of Dean trip, Greg Stokes and daughter Louise nipped to the Hawthorns to take in possibly the best game seen there for a number of years.  The theatre was in part enhanced by ref Rob Styles sending off of Albion lad McShane.  Greg felt moved to have words with Mr Styles and his linesman.  The first of many words throughout the game - until he remembered he was reading the Dalek story tonight and would need his voice intact! 

30/09/06:  FIVE MINUTES LOVE LAUNCH
The launch took place this morning at the Rectory in Short Heath of Carol Hathorne's autobiography Five Minutes Love.  Carol read an extract from the book before visitors, who included top Walsall novelist Paul McDonald and Wolverhampton poet Carol Ward, availed themselves of the opportunity to buy signed copies of the book and the many other Kates Hill Press titles on display.

28/09/06:   LITTLEDEAN GIG A SELLOUT
David Price confirmed tonight that the return leg of the cultural exchange between the Forest of Dean and the Black Country to be held at the Littledean House Hotel on Saturday is a sellout.

28/09/06:  KINGSTON AGENDA CONFIRMED
Tonight Greg Stokes confirmed with Steve Grey that the Kates Hill Press will proceed with his espionage thriller The Kingston Agenda.  This is a major undertaking for the KHP and the book is unlikely to see the light of day for a further 12 months. 

23/09/06:  END OF AN ERA
On Thursday I was walking back to the Path Lab at City Hospital from the Birmingham Treatment Centre.  It was a glorious day with Brum bathed in warm autumn sunshine.  It reminded me of the time I'd started work at Dudley Road Hospital, as it then was, 33 years ago.  It had been a wonderful place to work as a young man, a place where I learned the skills of the profession under the tutelage of people like Pam Brown, Alex Bignall, Don Holloway.  Those skills enabled me to travel the world, to set up and run a service to investigate infertility in Abu Dhabi.  But Biochemistry Dudley Road was also a place of great camaraderie and fun.  A lot of young people swelled the service in the early 70s, Paul Morris, Frank Hill, Tim Hazzell, to name a few.  We joined others, slightly older, who would guide us, Trevor Hall, John Tighe, Steve Harper.  While I went on my travels others remained, which brings me to today.  John Tighe had gone on to run the Spotted Dog pub in Digbeth and it was in the spacious patio at the rear of that establishment that many of the old Dudley Road gathered (Alex and Pam, and Rob Oldham making his way up from Plymouth), together with current members of staff, to celebrate the retirement of Steve Harper and Tim Hazzell.  With Steve I had organised many a social event in the old days and Tim had progressed to lab manager and had been instrumental in bringing me back to the lab service.  Both in their own ways have played a big part in my life.  Thanks for everything chaps, and good luck with everything you do.  After I left Dudley Road the first time, I seemed to spend my time saying goodbye to people I was fond of at railway stations and airports.  Having to leave the party early for a prior appointment, I was leaving behind so many who are held very dear indeed.  I had to be on a train at Snow Hill by 5.30.  While the party was signalling the end of an era, for me, it appears, nothing has changed. 

22/09/06:  FURTHER M/Ss FOR CONSIDERATION
Since the August Cant & Cag, Fizzogg writer and performer Louise Stokes has been discussing the possibility of her work being published by the Kates Hill Press.  In particular we are looking at Marooned, a study through poetry of an horrendous case of bullying in the NHS.  Louise handed Greg Stokes the M/S tonight.  Also placed in his mits was the photocopy of Recalling Black Country Yesterdays by Sam Massey.  This was published years ago by the Daily Mail. Sam is looking to get it back in print and the Kates Hill Press are taking a look.  For more news on both of these projects as details emerge visit the In The Pipeline page.

22/09/06:  £130 RAISED FOR HOSPICE
Chris Woodhall, 1957 - 2006, was a great supporter of the shows at the Lamp from day one.  He and his girlfriend Rosie never missed one.  What many didn't know was that Chris had long been battling serious illness as it was a battle he waged with great dignity and humour.  It was a fight he would eventually lose as he passed away last week.  Proceeds from tonight's raffle at the Lamp were to be donated to Mary Steven's Hospice in Chris's memory.  These monies were added to by artists and doorstaff donating their fees to the fund as well as other contributions from the audience.  In total £130 was raised for the hospice.  Many thanks to all for their generosity and mark of respect.

22/09/06:  GEOFF TRISTRAM AT LAMP
Geoff Tristram previewed his new novel Monet Trouble at the Lamp tonight.  Billy Spakemon bost off the night with a few poems.  Greg Stokes came on next to read the Darts Match from his new collection Second City Stories.  Geoff Stevens, standing in at short notice for Brendan Hawthorne, gave another of his great sets, starting with 'blame the parents.'  Geoff Tristram then took stage with excerpts from Monet Trouble, the continuing sage of Dave Day who featured in his first book A Nasty Bump on the Head. Monet Trouble is equally as funny and equally as brilliant.  Alex Bardsoe made his debut and went down a storm with his poems and quirky organ accompaniment.  Billy closed the half with a song.  Alan Neilson opened the second half with a masterful set.  The raffle was drawn after this, the proceeds of which went to Mary Stevens Hospice in memory of great Cant & Cag supporter Chris Woodhall who finally lost his long fight against illness last week.  There followed more from Alex and two Geoff's to round off another great night's entertainment.

16/09/06: KATES HILL PRESS AUTHORS AT CHAINWOMEN'S EVENT
Carol Midwood and Greg Stokes were among a host of local artists who provided street performance for the Chainwomen's Event at the Black Country Museum today.  The street entertainment was co-ordinated by Laurence Hipkiss of blackcountrypodcasting and included many regulars from the cant & Cag nights at The Lamp.  Also performing were musicians Pete Boddis, Alan Neilson, and Beechwood, poets Keith Whitehouse, and Alfie, and storyteller John Edgar.

07/09/06:  RAYMOND SMOUT PROJECT AGREED
The Kates Hill Press agreed this evening to publish Raymond Smout's book The Unofficial History of Coseley.  It will become the fourth of the Pocketful of Memories series.  See the In The Pipeline page for further details as they emerge. 

05/09/06:  CAROL WARD PROJECT CONFIRMED
The Kates Hill Press agreed this evening to publish a collection of Carol Ward's poetry.  See the In The Pipeline page for further details as they emerge.

21/08/06:  RE VAMP OF KHP SITE
Look out for some new features on the Kates Hill Press Website in the coming weeks.  We are going to have a separate page for the Pocketful of Memories series and a page of advice for prospective authors.  Also, now much of the reading has been done., we'll be updating the In The Pipeline Page with a stack of new projects.

20/08/06:  THE ITALIAN JOB
Over the past few months Billy Spakemon has been working on the story of how his Italian neighbours moved to the Black Country.  He conducted hours of interviews with Mick and his father Guido and wrote as he went along.  Sadly, Guido passed away last month but the project is to continue.  Indeed, it has generated great interest in Guido's home village in Italy.  Billy and Greg are now discussing the possibility of bringing the book out in Italian as well as English.  See this site for future details.

18/08/06:  AUNTY AT THE LAMP
We were very pleased to welcome Kate Broome and Rebecca Whyte from the BBC to the show at the Lamp tonight.  They are working on the new Lenny Henry show, Lenny's Britain. Greg had met them at the Lamp on 10/08 and at one stage it looked as though some of the Cant & Cag show might have been included.  While this is no longer the case we look forward to providing whatever assistance we can to this exciting project.

18/08/06:  FACE IT, FIZZOGG WERE GREAT
The Cant & Cag Night broke new ground yet again tonight in more ways than one.  Billy bost off not with a poem or song, but with a story about his adventures with a Krooklok.  An excellent reading of a great story set the standard for the rest of the night.  A touch lugubrious but totally brilliant Geoff Stevens came on next, starting with a parody of the Johnny Cash song St Quentin - in this case, 'Sandwell you've been livin hell to me...'  Geoff  continued with a lot of his Black Country material.  Greg stokes came on next to deliver The Grant, an old favourite that went down well and was a dig at the dolers out of art awards who knocked RKS back recently. Sedgley poet, Keith Melbourne, making a fine debut closed the half.  Now, there you've only got half the tale because after each act members of the Fizzogg Theatre Group came on to do absolutely spot on sketches - the Kates Hill posse and the philosophical society -  full of social comment and BC wit.  They went down an absolute storm.  In the second half we had old favourite Pete Boddis back, this time with a band, doing some Crosby Stills Nash & Young songs as well as his own.  Then we had more from Fizzogg - the line dancers this time.  Sets from Geoff and Keith closed the night.  It was a good turnout - lots of new faces - and a great night and yes, Fizzogg will be back. 

16/08/06: CHAINWOMEN'S EVENT MEETING
RKS are providing the entertainment for the Chainwomen's event at the black Country Museum on 16/09/06.  Most of those who will be involved met chez Spakemon tonight to discuss the event.  Visit www.roosterkatespake.co.uk  for details. 

07/08/06:  CLARICE HACKETT
On Saturday, The Kates Hill Press received the sad news of the death of Clarice Hackett.  Clarice has been unwell for some months and died on Saturday 29th July.  Clarice had been writing for many years and contributed to the earlier issues of the Black Country Bugle on the Petticoat Page.  By making her material available to us, she was central to the move taking the Kates Hill Press from a self publication vehicle for Greg Stokes's A Witness For Peace to a small press for publishing west midlands writers.  Her novel The Sportsman was published in 1996.  When we wanted to expand our catalogue with a series of booklets, we were able to offer two of Clarice's titles.  Stories Of The Old Black Country, and Reflections, a collection of her poetry, appeared in 2001.  The sequels, Stories Of The Old Black Country Volume Two, and More Reflections followed in 2002.  Clarice was very much behind the move to produce comb bound books in order to further widen the catalogue with longer works.  Her novel The Hairy Mouse was one of the first books produced in this way in 2004.  As a writer, Clarice certainly deserved a wider audience than the one we have been able to provide.  That being said, it was a privilege to have brought out so much of the fine work of this warm, friendly, intelligent, and immensely knowledgeable woman.  Her vision was that one day the Black Country would be put on the map by its literature.  Our hope is that one day that will be the case.  Clarice has certainly given us an incredible start.  With her passing, we have lost a great supporter and a true friend.  Our thoughts are with Clarice's family and we extend our condolences to them.
CLARICE HACKETT (1920 - 2006)   R.I.P.

06/08/06: Taken from the In The Pipeline Page

FIVE MINUTES LOVE
Carol Hathorne is a Black Country author with a long and national pedigree.  Her recollections of her childhood on Tipton's 'Lost City' estate were published by the Black Country Society under the title "Slurry and Strawberries".  Carol has written two further volumes of childhood recollections; "Bread Pudding Days", and "Woodbine Lines on the Wall."  After discussions with Greg Stokes, it has been agreed that some time next summer The Kates Hill Press will publish the three volumes in one comb bound book to be entitled "Five Minutes Love." 
Update: March 06, typesetting has begun.  Pictures for part one scanned, pictures for part two received.  Typesetting completed May 2006.  Production date July.

SECOND CITY STORIES
A collection of short stories by Greg Stokes, all set in Birmingham.  Typesetting completed May 2006.  Production date July.

06/08/06: APPEAL FOR INFORMATION
The Kates Hill Press have received the following appeal for information from Carol Hughes of the 7th Dudley Scout Group.
"I am trying to find information on 1st Wolverton Road Estate Troop (Scouts) who were based at No 9 Hostel, Wolverton Road, Kates Hill.  They later changed their name to 7th Dudley meeting at St John's Mission Hall."
They now run from 88a Watson's Green Road, Dudley.  If anyone has any information either contact the troop directly or email the Kates Hill Press and we will pass it on.

21/07/06:  ANOTHER HOT NIGHT AT THE LAMP
A summer scorcher and a great night's entertainment for those who made it to the Lamp this evening.  Billy Spakemon bost off with his brilliant poem about the Rowley Hailstone, a piece made even more effective by an atmospheric Celtic background track.  Ray Jones, mKaking his debut was next up reading  story about a man made redundant in the Thatcher years who took up painting.  Close your eyes when Ray's on and you'll think you are listening to Radio Four!  Keith Whitehouse came on next celebrating the release of his first CD - see the Roosterkatespake site for details.  Keith was once more marvelously entertaining.  Greg Stokes followed Keith reading The Paint from his Gulf collection, dedicating it to the inspectors who had recently visited his workplace.  Billy and Lozz finished the half with a song.  More from Keith and Ray in the second half, with Colin Burchill, also celebrating a new CD, closing the night with more of his blinding vocals and exquisite songs.

21/07/06:  FIVE MINUTES LOVE NOW AVAILABLE
Carol Hathorne's brilliant autobiography Five Minutes Love is now available.  It is a comb bound book, 172 pages, price £6.50.  For further details visit the Social History page.

19/07/06:  SECOND CITY STORIES NOW AVAILABLE
Greg Stokes's collection of 29 short stories all set in the Birmingham is now available.  It's a comb bound book, 144 pages, price £6.00.  For further details and access to a full synopsis visit the Short Stories page.  Carol Hathorne's book Five Minutes Love is also available.  Full details will appear on this site in the next few days.

18/07/06:  GREG AND BILLY READ AT BARLOW
Greg Stokes and Billy Spakemon read at a well-attended and varied night at the Barlow.  Greg did the Brew'uss about the Gypsies Tent in Dudley while Billy performed his recently completed piece about the Hailstone on Rowley Hills.  He'll be doing it again at the Lamp on Friday with Celtic music accompaniment.

17/07/06:  BILLY ON THE BOX
Billy Spakemon was on BBC Midlands Today tonight showing the reporter the brilliant views from Bury Hill Bonk in Oldbury.  The series is designed to show the beauties of the region.  Billy explained that the vista of the Black Country from the Rowley Ridge can in its own way be breath-taking.  It was an excellent little piece with Billy once more championing the BC.   The other wonder was 2½ hours filming being condensed to a couple of minutes. 

14/07/06:  TINDALL STREET LAUNCH IN BRUM
Greg Stokes and Billy Spakemon attended the launch of two new short story anthologies by the Tindall Street Press at the Orange Studio in Birmingham tonight.  The two books were Mango Shake, edited by Debjani Chatterjee, and Loffing Matters, edited by Cant & Cag favourite, Paul McDonald.  There were readings by Zorina Ishmail-Bibby, Anish Desai, Bobby Nayyar from Mango Shake. An actress read an extract from Harpreet Singh's story.  John Mulcreevy, Liza Granville and Laurence Inman read from their stories in Loffing Matters.  It was an excellent event with drinks in the rooftop garden then readings in the theatre and many of the west midlands literati in attendance.  Speaking with the authors afterwards it is hoped that John Mulcreevy and Liza Granville will read at the Lamp in autumn.  We also hope to welcome back Paul McDonald, Anthony Cartwright, and Laurence Inman - busy schedule permitting. 

14/07/06: FIVE MINUTES LOVE/SECOND CITY STORIES - UPDATE
Proofs for Carol Hathorne's autobiography Five Minutes Love, and Greg Stokes' short story collection Second City Stories were taken to the printers this morning.  They should be available in about two weeks time. 

12/07/06:  BOOK LAUNCH FOR BRENDAN AND GEOFF
Why are book launches like buses?  Because you don't see one for ages, then two come along at once.  Tonight saw the first of two this week.  Brendan Hawthorne and Geoff Stevens launched The All Night Cafe And Other Dives at Wednesbury Library.  the book, A4 folded lengthways like a cafe menu is full of poems by Brendan and Geoff who performed many of them in the first half of the launch.  Top notch performances from two of the Black Country's performance poets.  The second half saw Brendan do two song, then Goeff read Darlaston Men and The Last of the Real Men amongst others before Brendan closed the night with his brilliant home knitted pullover poem and the ever popular Seventies Child.  They also announced the launch of Poetry Wednesbury's service to desktop publish copies of local author's and poet's work, as well as being able to record them.  More details of this when it's available.  Paul McDonald's launch next up, Friday.

08/07/06:  MAJOR NEW GREG STOKES PROJECT
Greg Stokes has begun putting pen to paper on a major new project, Murder - A Guided Tour For Helpers.  The title comes from a training programme Greg ran with Barry Morris for Victim Support volunteers working with families bereaved by homicide in the 1990s. The new work looks at issues of redemption in murderers, forgiveness in victim's families, and victim's rights. Greg is concerned that the issue of victim's rights has been hi-jacked by groups who focus on sentencing policy.  To support the argument 'a life for a life' the saying 'it's me that's got the life sentence' has become something of a mantra to victims' families, ensuring they will always be victims, never survivors.  While watching a documentary about the Paul Simon musical Capeman some years ago Greg saw people protesting about the play's subject - a 1950s New York gang member who killed two youths, Robert Young and Anthony Krzensinski. Murder is not entertainment they proclaimed.  Given that he lost his own father through murder, and that he is a writer, Greg has sympathies in both camps.  He knew about loss through murder, but he also knew that as a culture we pig out on it for entertainment. The training programme always opened with that point, whether we liked it or not, murder was indeed entertainment.  Murder - A Guided tour For Helpers walks the front line between public property and private grief and in so doing examine issues of redemption and forgiveness by taking the reader to 1950s New York to look at the Capeman case in the context of gang violence and the changing face of the city in that decade, through to the cockpit of the bombers which tried to eliminate Colonel Gaddafi in 1986, the act that led to the murder of Doug Stokes.  Murder - A Guided Tour For Helpers will also draw on material from the training programme, and A Witness For Peace and indeed takes the reader on a guided tour of how western society's most dramatised crime, murder, impacts on the people it affects most - the victim's family.

04/0706:  FIVE MINUTES LOVE, SECOND CITY STORIES - UPDATE
Proofs for Carol Hathorne's book Five Minutes Love, and Greg Stokes's Second City Stories will be delivered to the printers on 14th July.  Hopefully both works will be available about 2 weeks thereafter.

30/06/06:  SECOND WOMAN'S NIGHT
The second RKS women's night was held at the Lamp this evening.  Carol Midwood opened with one of her Bawdy Bloody Black Country stories.  Top story teller Sue Hulse was up next with some of her 'coal stories'.  Lyn McCloud came on to provide the first music act of the night with three fabulous songs.  Wolverhampton poet Emma Pursehouse closed the half with an excellent set of poems, clearly the product of a highly intelligent well read women, and so funny!  The incredible Emma Pursehouse opened the second half in fancy dress - each item to remind her of the poem she was about to do. She was followed by Maria Broster with a set of instrumentals on acoustic guitar, many of them self penned.   Sue Hulse was next up with more coal stories and the night was closed with a Bawdy Bloody BC story from Carol Midwood.  Another excellent night's entertainment.   The only down side was that there were so few there to see it -summer and the World Cup conspiring against us it seems.

23/06/06:  PAUL SIMON - EAT YOUR HEART OUT
Congolese band Les Adorateurs blew the Lamp away tonight with a set of African gospel songs.  At 7.45pm we still weren't sure if they were going to show up or not.  A few minutes later they were wowing everyone with  practice number for the sound check just the shape of things to come. Billly Spakemon bost off with a song based on native American rhythms..  John Summerton came on next to read a chapter from his new nove, Taken Over.  Carol Midwood was next up reading a coupe of new stories that had everyone in stitches.  Greg Stokes closed the half with The Selection Process, one of the forthcoming Second City Stories.  After the break Les Adorateurs gave us African music of the finest.  They were reluctant to do an encore but thankfully did, treating the audience to a more upbeat number.  Billy and Greg joined John Summerton on stage to enact another chapter from Taken Over.  Carol Midwood closed the night with another Bawdy Bloody BC story.  A fabulous night's entertainment.

08/06/06:  IRENE M DAVIES
This evening, we at The Kates Hill Press were saddened to hear of the death of Irene M Davies, author of A Pocketful of Memories - Rowley.  Irene had appeared on the Carl Chinn show on Sunday 28th May, an experience that had thrilled her immensely.  She was unwell on the Monday and went to bed.  Sadly she was never to get up again.  On the journey over to WM, and back, Irene had been full of stories of bye-gone times.  She was a marvelous storyteller and her book about life in Rowley, her own story, is fine testimony to that.  Our thoughts are with members of Irene's family and we extend our condolences to them.
IRENE M DAVIES (1918 - 2006)  R.I.P. 

29/05/06: SECOND CITY STORIES UPDATE
Work on typesetting Greg Stokes's collection of short stories all set in Birmingham, Second City Stories, was completed today.  Once corrections are done, this too will go into production.

28/05/06:  JOHN SUMMERTON, CAROL HATHORNE FOR CARL CHINN SHOW
Following today's appearances by Irene Davies and Greg Stokes, Kates Hill Press authors John Summerton and Carol Hathorne are to be invited onto the show.  See this website for details.

28/05/06:   IRENE DAVIES AND GREG STOKES ON CARL CHINN SHOW
Irene Davies and Greg Stokes were on the Carl Chinn Show on BBC Radio WM this afternoon.  Greg talked about the Kates Hill Press, its history, as well as recent and forthcoming publications.  Irene spoke about her life and her book Pocketful of Memories - Rowley.

27/05/06: BIG BANK HOLIDAY CANT & CAG CROWD
RKS had their biggest crowd to date for tonight's bank holiday Cant & Cag show.  Billy and Greg bost off with a new Rappers song Oss Off, followed by a serious poem from Billy about the Irish being sent to America in coffin ships.  Award winning Dudley author Anthony Cartwright came on next to read from his new novel in the works portraying political and racial tensions in a Black Country council ward.  Greg Stokes then took the stage to read the first of his Les and Sheila stories, Arsewipe.  Many have asked if the Les and Sheila tales are ever going to appear in print and the short answer is yes, asap.  Sue Hulse came on next with more of her wonderful stories and poems.  Billy and Lozz closed the half with a tribute to Steve Earle and a couple of Billy's songs.
In a slight departure from the normal format, up and coming young Oldbury band Solartone did a set which brought the house down.  Real quality, and from just down the road.  Do not be surprised if these people go places.  Anthony and Sue followed with second sets to close a brilliant night.

26/05/06:  FIVE MINUTES LOVE UPDATE
Work on typesetting Carol Hathorne's autobiography, Five Minutes Love was completed today.  Carol will be proof reading the draft in the next few weeks and once corrections are completed the book can go into production.

24/05/06:  RKS AT ART CENTRE OPENING
Billy Spakemon and Lozz Hipkiss performed at the opening of the new Arts Block at Castle High School, Dudley tonight.  Geoff Tristram was the main speaker.

21/05/06:  BILLY SPAKEMON FEATURE
Billy Spakemon featured in an article in today's Sunday Mercury.

18/05/06:  NEVER MIND THE FULL STOPS
Greg Stokes (polishing a glass and looking bored) and Billy Spakemon (spaking) appeared in a clip on the BBC Four quiz show Never Mind The Full Stops tonight.  The celebrity panel had to guess where we were from, from Billy's dialect.  Former political correspondent has it down as Lancashire.  The show will be repeated on Tuesday 23rd May at 8.30.

15/05/06: MORE M/Ss FOR CONSIDERATION
Over the last few days two more MSs have been received by the Kates Hill Press and are being seriously considered for publication. Wolverhampton poet Carol Ward had sent a collection of her poems.  Carol appeared at the Lamp on 03/03/06 and has also been on the blackcountrypodcasting show. Raymond Smout has sent a history of Coseley.  Raymond has been living in Hampshire for over 30 years but has been moved to record the history of his home town. 

14/05/06:  BILLY SPAKEMON ON CARL CHINN
Billy Spakemon was on the Carl Chinn show this afternoon talking about his new book Cor yow Shurrup a Minit Billy, and his CD. 

01/05/06: BRIERLEY HILLS COP UPDATE
The rough draft of Greg Stokes's sequel to Pack of Saftness was at last completed today.

30/04/06:  JOHN CORNFIELD INTEREST
Portsmouth Head Teacher Alison Gale has been in touch with the Kates Hill Press regarding our proposed Black Country Classic of poet John Cornfield's work.  Alison has done extensive research into his life and has kindly offered this for inclusion in the book.  Alison has an article on the Black Country Society web site. www.blackcountrysociety.co.uk/articles/johncornfield.htm

28/04/06:  SOMETHING OLD, SOMETHING NEW
A few months back, Barry Morris pondered whether there would have been a Kates Hill Press if the bombing of Libya had not taken place in 1986. We'll never know because the raid did take place and the Kates Hill Press is very much alive and kicking as are the Nights of Cant & Cag and tonight's show marked the 20th anniversary of the event that resulted in the death of Doug Stokes.  Greg Stokes introduced the night asking rhetorically, why mark something that happened so long ago in a world where we are expected to 'move on'. The night itself provided the clear answer that the same old lies and iniquities are being perpetrated on our behalf.  While addressing an age old issue, there was so much that was new.  The stage, flanked by two brilliant posters by Billy Spakemon set the scene. Billy was joined by Greg to bring on two old characters, the kids on the wall Billy and Paul, musing about life for kids in WW2. Billy then did a poem based on a Martin Luther King speech, with accompaniment by Lozz Hipkiss on guitar.  You could hear a pin drop while Greg Stokes read the chapter Some Corner of a Foreign Field from A Witness for Peace which told of his parent's journey through the labyrinthine Marrakech market to meet their fate.  Sue Clarke came on next to sing the Eric Boggle song Flowers of the Forest. Barry Morris came on next to read A Knock on the Door marking the 100th fatality of a British serviceman in Iraq.  He then read a poem written by his father about his time with the International Brigade in Spain.  Brendan Hawthorne came on next with a set of anti war poetry delivered to his incredibly high standard.  Closing the half, Brendan and Greg joined Billy and Lozz on stage for a version of Dylan's With God on Our Side, brilliantly reworked by Bill.
A further departure in the second half, landscape artist Rob Perry gave a slide show presentation of his series of paintings produced on the Somme battlefields.  The mood was lightened for the Reduced War of The Worlds, Greg's rework of the HG Wells classic, narrated by Billy, performed by Greg, with the assistance of Barry Morris playing the Scouse Martians, and sister in law Lynda Prosser playing herself (thanks for being such great sports).  Sue Clarke came on to give us Eric Boggle's The Band Played Waltzing Matilda . Barry and Brendan then gave us short sets paving the way, later than we would have hoped for Kates Hill musician Alan Neilson to close the night with a top notch performance.

21/04/06:  MEDIA UPDATE
Billy Spakemon will appear on the Carl Chinn Show on Sunday 14th May, while Irene Davies and Greg Stokes will appear on Sunday 28th May.

09/04/06:  BRIERLEY HILLS COP
The rough draft of the sequel to Pack of Saftness, Brierley Hills Cop is very near completion now.  We will look at getting this out before Christmas.  In the meantime, it is planned that another of Greg's titles Second City Stories will be published in summer.

08/04/06:  MEDIA INTEREST
Check out John Ogden's article in tonight's Express and Star featuring Billy Spakemon, in particular but also Roosterkatespake and the Kates Hill Press.  Coming up we have Billy and hopefully Irene Davies on the Carl Chinn show on 14th May, and also in May there'll be the screening on BBC Four of Never Mind the Full Stops featuring Billy and Greg.

25/03/06:  CULTURAL EXCHANGE WITH FOREST OF DEAN - HUGE SUCCESS
A crowd of over 50 saw the long awaited Cultural Exchange with The Forest of Dean.  Greg Stokes had spent the day with David Price, Dave Harvey and Tosh at the Black Country Museum.  The similarities between the two industrial regions were soon apparent.  An excellent day paved the way for a brilliant night. Billy Spakemon bost off the show with a couple of poems, including the Great Escape II, a rallying call for the Baggies perched precariously near the foot of the Premier League.  Greg Stokes came on to read one from the series of Les and Sheila stories about lawyers who make their money through image rights etc.  David Price then took the stage and included a short poem in his introduction to the tremendous Dave Havey who gave us song, banter, and, as he calls his poems, 'rhyming rubbish.'  They are far from rubbish and the crowd lapped it up.  Billy and Lozz Hipkiss closed the half with a tribute to songwriter Richard Thompson, then two of Billy's own compositions.  Greg and Billy opened the second half with a sketch introducing two new characters, the Cantin Cathy's.  Dave Harvey came back on to surpass his first set and leave to rapturous applause.  Talented duo Beechwood closed the night.
The provisional date for the return leg in the Forest is 30th September.  Many of the audience expressed the desire the make the trip down so a big posse from the BC is expected to be in attendance.

23/03/06: From In The Pipeline Page

BILLY SPAKEMON CD
Billy Spakemon plans to start 2005 by bringing out a CD of his poems.  We will provide more details when they are available.  Although this will be a Billy spakemon venture, it will be marketed via Kates Hill Press catalogues and website.
Update: Billy has already brought a CD out - The Graiyte Eskairpe - but that was a practice run for a collection of his poems.  He has been busy recording them at Lozz Hipkisses Roosters Studio and the CD should be available before Christmas 2005.

22/03/06:  BILLY SPAKEMON WEBSITE LIVE
Billy Spakemon's long awaited website went live today.  Check it out.  www.billyspakemon.co.uk

14/03/06: CAROL HATHORNE PROJECT - UPDATE
Work has started on Carol's book Five Minute's Love which comprises the three parts of her autobiography; Slurry & Strawberries, Bread Pudding Days, and Woodbines on the Wall.  Typesetting has begun.  Pictures for the first book scanned and the pictures for the second have just been received.  The project is on course for July publication.

03/03/06: FIRST WOMAN'S NIGHT - HUGE SUCCESS
A crowd of about 70 filled the Lamp for the first all female line up held to mark international women's day. Billy and Greg introduced the acts. Carol Midwood bost off with a new Edna and Arthur poem. Now, it has been written that the Carry On films tell you far more about British society than something like Look Back in Anger ever could.  In the sense that there's a popular tradition of and love for the risque dating back through Shakespeare and Chaucer and on to the Exeter Riddles of Saxon times it is undoubtedly true.  Carol has been reworking Jon Raven's old Black Country folk tales which are as ribald as you get and her delivery of the Wednesbury Cock Fight was nothing short of brilliant.  Good start then.  Next up was Wolverhampton poet Carol Ward with a set of her animal poems, delivered with a kind of relaxed majesty after the vibrancy of her namesake. The quality continued with Sue Clarke who gave a commanding performance of both a poem and a song.  Sue Hulse then took the stage to tell of life for the women in the Yorkshire mining community whence she hails.  This was storytelling of the highest calibre. The half closed on a high note, with Lin McCloud (guitar, flue, vocals), Maria Broster (guitar) and Adele Tripe (violin)  with a selection of four songs written by women.
In the second half Carol Midwood eased us in with an Edna and Arthur poem before unleashing The Buxom Dairy Maid.  If you thought the first one was ribald... Carol Ward followed with a set including a brilliant poem sending up comedienne Kathryn Tate (does this face look bothered).  Sue Clarke then came on with a rendition of the Eric Boggle song The Band Played Waltzing Matilda -hopefully she'll come back and do it at the anti war gig in April.  Maria Broster came on next to perform a solo instrumental of her own compostion.  She stayed on stage to accompany Sue Hulse to great effect in her next set.  The night closed with all performers on stage for If I had a Hammer.  A top night's entertainment.

24/02/06: HOT TIME ON COLD NIGHT
A crowd of over 50 braved a freezing Dudley night to take in the latest Cant & Cag night at the Lamp.  They were rewarded by top performances all round.  Billy Spakemon bost off proceedings with his new book and CD available for the first time in the shap. Geoff Tristram came on next reading from his brilliant novel A Nasty Bump on the Head.  Poet Keith Whitehouse was on next with smooth 'Bing Crosby' delivery of a range of poems including the bostin Bostin. David Tristram was on next reading from the incredibly funny - and I mean health warning, split your sides incredibly funny - novel A Bolt From the Blue.  Geoff is an acclaimed artist and cartoonist and David an acclaimed playwright.  We are indebted to them for finding time in their busy schedules to come and support local artists and what fantastic support it was.  Greg Stokes closed the half reading a short story The Spanking - thanks to Carol Midwood for the French lesson beforehand.
The second half opened with Billy narrating the Expanded Jack and Jill, and Greg doing a rake of voices and changes of headgear.  Wonderful pantomime - great fun to do, and brilliant audience participation. Watership Down and War of the Worlds are getting the treatment later on in the year.  Geoff then gave us more from Nasty Bump on the Head - a spot on scene describing an old fashioned barber.  Keith threw a few serious poems in his second set, paving the way for David to give us a second helping of Bolt from the Blue.  Pete Boddis closed the night with a masterful set of his marvelous songs such as The Ballad ofJodie Blue and Denver Simpsons' Last Ride.
And next Friday sees the first all female line up. Not to be missed.

22/02/06:  NEW BOOKS NOW AVAILABLE FROM KATES HILL PRESS
Billy Spakemons new book Cor Yow Shurrup a Minit Billy! is now available from the Kates Hill Press.  Visit the Poetry page for details.
Also available is Julia Wareing's book A Poketful of Memories - Acock's Green - One of Eleven.  Visit the Social History page for details.

21/02/06:  BILLY AND GREG FILMED FOR BBC FOUR SHOW
Billy Spakemon and Greg Stokes were at the Brewhouse at the back of the Lamp tonight where 35 seconds of Billy dialogue was filmed from front, back side, up down and all points of the compass while Greg polished a glass.  It was all in aid of a new celebrity quiz show Never Mind the Full Stops, to go out on BBC Four later this year.  Watch this site for details.

17/02/06: JOHN CORNFIELD M/S
The Kates Hill Press received the M/S of John Cornfield's book from Paul Mcdonald this morning.  Work will commence on this new Black /country Classic title in the next few months.

09/02/06: JULIA WAREING BOOK
Corrections are now complete on Julia Wareing's book Pocketful of Memories Acock's Green - One of Eleven.  CRC will be taken to the printers in the next few days.

07/02/06: BILLY'S BOOK
With Carl Chinn's incredible foreword incorporated into the book now Camera Ready Copy of Billy Spakemon's new book Cor yow Shurrup a Minit Billy was delivered to the Print Services Unit at Wolves Uni this morning. 

03/02/06:  JOHN CORNFIELD BOOK
Greg Stokes discussed the proposed new Black Country Classic, the poems of John Cornfield tonight.  Watch this site for details as the project unfolds.

03/02/06: FIRST WALSALL GIG
A crowd of about 40 braved the freezing weather to see RoosterkateSpake's first Walsall gig at the tap and Spile. Billy bost off with material from his forthcoming book. Paul McDonald followed with a reading form his novel set in Walsall, Surviving Sting.  Next up was Brendan Hawthorne with his usual wide range of subject matter and immaculate delivery.  Greg Stokes then read the window cleaners in New York piece from Pack of Saftness.  Neil Morris from Wednesbury, making his acoustic debut, closed the half.  Shorter solid sets from the spoken work line up paved the way for local band the ABs to close the show.  We'll be back at The Tap and Spile in June - see the roosterkatespake site for details. 

20/01/06: NEW YEAR BOSTER AT THE LAMP
RoosterKateSpake's first Black Country Night of Cant and Cag of 2006 was a fantastic evening of entertainment for the 60 plus audience.  Billy bost off with an ace piece about shirkers, every place has got them.  John Summerton, launching his history of St Andrews My Mate Stan followed with a mix of stand up comedy and a reading from the book.  Then came local poet with international reputation Geoff Stephens with some punchy local material.  Greg Stokes, in deference to our guests from Brum read Little Drummer Boy from his collection Second City Stories to be published later this year.  The first half closed with Laurence Hipkiss joining Billy Spakemon on stage for the first of a new feature the songwriter's slot focusing on John Martin.  Greg joined them both to close the half with the audience joining in 'never felt more like singin the blues'.
The second half opened with two new characters from Billy and Greg, the rappers - Billy Vest and Arfa Crown doin rap BC style.  A few more poems from Billy paved the way for John Summerton's second reading from Stan, capped with the audience joining him in a rendition of the old Beer at Home Means Davenports song using prompt cards a la Bob Dylan.  Top stuff.  Geoff gave more of his fantastic material then Greg read Chocolate George from Second City Stories.  The night closed with a set from Colin Burchil whose vocals are just awesome.  A great night. First Walsall gig next.

17/01/06:  BILLY SPAKEMON BOOK - UPDATE
The first draft of the new Billy Spakemon book, Cor Yow Shurrup A Minit Billy!, was sent to Carl Chinn today. Carl has kindly agreed to do a foreword to the book.  It is a collection of poems, stories and sketches and contains numerous cartoons.  The first draft of Pocketful of Memories - Acocks Green by Julia Wareing is close to completion.

13/01/06: CAROL HATHORNE PROJECT
Greg Stokes met Carol Hathorne today to discuss the publication of her autobiography "Five Minutes Love"  The book will be published this summer. Watch this web site for details.

11/01/06: TOSSIE PATRICK AUDIO BOOK
Greg Stokes took Laurence Hipkiss along to meet Tossie Patrick this morning to discuss recording her material both for the podcast shows, and a future audio book.  Watch out for further details.

09/01/06: POCKETFUL OF MEMORIES - ACOCK'S GREEN
Greg Stokes confirmed with Pauline Turner tonight that The Kates Hill Press will publish A Pocketful Of Memories - Acock's Green.  The book was written by Pauline's mother Julia Wareing and will be sub titled "One of Eleven".  Whereas the other books in the series describe places this work is very much more about the grinding poverty of life in the back to backs, in this case under the tyranny of an abusive father.  Three of Julia's sisters went on to develop Alzheimer's disease and the second part of the book describes living in the shadow of this condition.  The book is not only vivid in its description of life's hardships but also displays the dignity with which they are endured.  The work will be an A5 booklet of some 52 pages.  Watch out for further details on this web site. 

06/01/06: POCKETFUL OF MEMORIES ROWLEY GOES TO REPRINT
The Kates Hill Press have to order a second printing of Irene M Davies book Pocketful of Memories Rowley.  Christmas and some good publicity in the Express & Star, and the Chronicle have ensured good sales. 

05/01/06: GREG STOKES TO MEET CAROL HATHORNE
A meeting has been set up between Greg Stokes and Carol Hathorne for 13th January to discuss the publication in summer of Five Minutes Love - the three volume of her autobiography all in one book.

05/01/06: CARL CHINN TO DO FOREWORD FOR BILLY SPAKEMON BOOK
Billy Spakemon advised The Kates Hill Press today that Carl Chinn has agrees to write a foreword for his new book.

HOME PAGE