Poet Laureate Carol Ann Duffy signs up to appear at Wirral’s Bookfest

Sep 23 2009 by Lorna Hughes, Birkenhead News

WIRRAL BOOKFEST 2009

MONDAY OCTOBER 12TH

Soap Story 2 TV scriptwriter Kate McDonnell demonstrates how to write for TV soaps from page to screen. Free, but booking essential. Maximum 12 places. Refreshments available. Rock Ferry Library, 10am-12.30pm. Contact: 0151 641 2858 to book.

Viking Wirral and Viking Genes An illustrated talk by local Viking expert Steve Harding. Are you a Viking descendant? Decipher Wirral’s Norse code! Free.Wallasey Central Library, 2.30pm-4pm. Details: 0151 639 2334

Wirral Windmills A fascinating illustrated talk by local historian Jim O’Neill. £2 Friends of Greasby Library (£2.50 non-members). Greasby Library 7.30pm - 8.30pm Details: 0151 677 5714

An Evening With Carol Ann Duffy An evening of verse and wisdom from the acclaimed Poet Laureate. Tickets £5, including wine. Booking essential - tickets available from Birkenhead, Bromborough and Wallasey Central Libraries. Bromborough Civic Centre, 7.30pm-9pm. Details: 0151 334 1650

TUESDAY OCTOBER 13TH

The Brave Little Ferry Boats An illustrated talk by Maria Saunderson on her book and embroideries about the Mersey Ferry boats that went in to the Great War. Free. Wallasey Central Library, 10am-11am. Details: 0151 639 2334

Wilfred Owen - Birkenhead’s Great War Poet An illustrated talk by expert John Baxter about Wilfred Owen’s early life in Birkenhead, followed by a guided walk. Free, but booking essential. Maximum 30 places. Birkenhead Central Library, 2pm - 4.30pm. Contact: 0151 652 6106 to book.

Murder Most Foul: Life and Crimes of Agatha Christie Crime writers Matthew Booth and David Stuart Davies - The Mystery Men - give their brilliant take on the queen of the whodunnit genre. Tickets £3, including wine. Booking essential. West Kirby Library, 8pm - 9pm. Contact 0151 929 7808 to book

Books on Film: The Boy in Striped Pyjamas Birkenhead Film Society present Mark Herman’s poignant holocaust story about a young German boy’s forbidden friendship with a Jewish child. £1 members/£4 non-members. Pay on door.Birkenhead Town Hall, 7.30pm - 9.30pm. Details: 0151 652 6106

WEDNESDAY OCTOBER 14TH

Family History Workshops: Who do you think you are? Help with tracing your family tree. Free, but booking essential.Birkenhead Central Reference Library, 10am - 12 noon. Details: 0151 652 6106 (ext 7)

Stephen McGreal: Military Interments in Flaybrick Cemetery, Birkenhead A tribute to the Great War military dead interred here. Discover how a selection of forces and civilian personnel died in the service of their country. Also includes Lusitania and Titanic victims. Free. Birkenhead Central Library, 2pm-3pm. Details: 0151 652 6106 (ext 7)

Riverside Writers: New Tales from Old Byways Wirral life explored through original poetry and prose created by Riverside Writers. Horror, humour and beauty - sustained with cheese and wine! Free. West Kirby Library 7pm - 9pm. Details: 0151 929 7808

Greasby Poetry Group Peggy Poole and the Greasby Poetry Group read their own poems on a variety of subjects including dragons, sleep, loss,clothes and politics - non PC of course! Free. Greasby Library 7.30pm - 9pm. Details: 0151 677 5714

THURSDAY OCTOBER 15TH

Gavin Hunter: Storeton Quarries and Tramway - An Illustrated Talk Join local historian Gavin Hunter for an absorbing illustrated talk on this ancient and remarkable place. £1.50, booking essential.Bebington Central Library, 11am - 12 noon. Details: 0151 643 7224

Fran Sandham: Traversa - My Solo Walk Across Africa An illustrated talk by Wirral man Fran, who decided to walk from one coast of Africa to the other - alone! Free, but booking essential. Refreshments available. Upton Library, 2.30pm - 3.30pm. Details: 0151 677 5677

Murder Squad - From Crippen to Crime Scene Investigation Celebrated crime writers Martin Edwards and Margaret Murphy show us how they dig up the facts. Tickets £3, including wine. Booking essential. Bebington Central Library, 7.30pm-9pm. Contact: 0151 643 7219

FRIDAY OCTOBER 16TH

John Saville: Recollections of Old Wallasey 2 Another nostalgic slideshow of the landmarks and landscapes of this intriguing town. Free. Refreshments available. Seacombe Library, 10.30am-11.30am. Details: 0151 638 4475

Michael Corfe: F.E Smith, Lord Birkenhead An absorbing talk on the remarkable politician whom Lord Beaverbrook rated as “the cleverest man in the kingdom”. Free. Heswall Library 2.30pm - 3.30pm. Refreshments available. Details: 0151 342 4552

Dead Good Poets: Wirral Ode Show Brilliant local poets read and perform. Free. Refreshments available. Heswall Library, 7.30pm - 9pm. Details: 0151 342 4552

SATURDAY OCTOBER 17TH

Family History Fair Family and local history experts giving advice and help. Free. Birkenhead Central Library, 10am-1pm, 2pm-4pm. Details: 0151 652 6106 (ext 7)

SUNDAY OCTOBER 18TH

Creative Writing: Memories of Wirral Write down your memories of Wirral and they may be broadcast at a later date on Radio Merseyside! Free, but booking essential. Greasby Library, 10.30am-12 noon. Contact: 0151 677 5714.

Family Fun Day Including ‘Spooky Stories’ with John Hughes at midday, ‘Crafts for Kids’ at 1pm and witty rap artist Curtis Watt at 2pm.Greasby Library, 11am-3pm. Contact: 0151 677 5714.