Saturday 9th July 7.30pm at The Bridge House Theatre. Rory McGrath Was In Conversation With Andrew Davies… 

         ‘The Father, The Son
         and The Ghostly Hole’

 ‘I remember thinking when I was about 14, “I hope God doesn’t find out I’m an atheist”.’

What a super evening was enjoyed by a wonderful audience of well over 200 people, yet another successful event put on for Warwick Words by Warwick Books.

Rory McGrath was brought up a Catholic. He was baptised, taught by nuns at Catholic school and spent his Sundays at church as an altar boy.  His life’s rhythm was set by the routine of Mass, Confession and Holy Days.  Until, that is, as a teenager in crisis, he abandoned his faith, entered the God-forsaken world and embraced its evil ways with a spring in his step.

But almost immediately he realised that in the process of giving up the Church, he had also inadvertently ‘freed’ himself from certainty, safety, confidence and hope. So, Rory never quite escaped the pull of Catholicism. Instead, his apostasy became a long and winding road which included the coincidence of marrying a (lapsed) Catholic and getting married in a Catholic church and baptising his children so they could attend the best school in the area.

Witty and reflective, The Father, The Son and The Ghostly Hole examines how being raised a Catholic always colours your view of life and death.  For Rory, it fuelled the guilt he felt in every nook and cranny of life, and it provoked an [unsuccessful] search for God in other things; sex, drugs, drink, love, family, football and the Periodic Table.  Taking the Seven Deadly sins as a starting point, The Father, The Son and The Ghostly Hole humorously reveals how, even as the most lapsed of Catholics, the religion has shaped Rory forever.

Rory McGrath was born in Cornwall in the last century. He studied at Redruth Grammar School and Emmanuel College, Cambridge. He is one of the best-known faces in British comedy, appearing in programmes such as They Think It’s All Over, QI and Three Men in a Boat. He was a co-founder of TV production company Hat Trick Productions, and has written jokes for many comedians, including Frankie Howerd.

His first book, Bearded Tit, was a Sunday Times bestseller and Radio 4 Book of the Week, receiving widespread acclaim:

“Rory has pulled off something rather special”  Simon Barnes

“Funny and surprisingly moving” Griff Rhys Jones

“Lyrical and beautiful”  Daily Telegraph

“A real pleasure” Sunday Express

“a gentle, warming, nostalgic and gag-ridden memoir” Daily Mail

 Rory lives in Cambridge and supports Arsenal.

 We all have a great time when authors visit, and love to meet them all. It was a particular pleasure to meet Rory as he is such a nice fella! We are delighted that Rory’s publisher Ebury have supported us in putting on this event. Do look out for our other terrific events..always on www.warwickbooks.net

On Friday 15th July 7.30pm, at The Bridge House Theatre, Gervase Phinn talked about his first novel for adults ‘The Little Village School’.

 Gervase Phinn’s first adult novel heralds the triumphant arrival on the fiction scene of  this much loved author …Gervase always gives wonderful value, and this evening was no exception as he had the large audience in the palm of his hand. Funnier than any comedian, but at the same time full of wise words, if you missed this event you really must try to see him another time. Thoroughly, thoroughly enjoyable….

 A critically damning school inspector’s report meant that a new Head Teacher had to be found for Barton-in-the-Dale Primary School. Whether it was the tight skirt, the stockings or the red shoes with silver heels, no one ever said, but there was only one candidate who stood out in the interview process. It took no time at all before Elisabeth Devine was installed, and the out-going Head Teacher, Miss Sowerbutts, was muttering and grumbling her tight-mouthed way into retirement.

Villages are small communities, though, and the gossip mill went into overtime as she, and her heels, were evaluated. Tongues wagged, judgments were made, friends fell out and enmities established. But against all this, Elisabeth worked her energetic magic on the school, the teachers, the pupils…and the recently widowed doctor and his silent young son. She began to realise, however, that no matter how well she did in changing the school’s fortunes, there was an agenda already in place for its future that she knew nothing about. Discovering it, and the devastation it would bring, means she had to rally her new friends in the village…and a motley bunch they were indeed – ranging from a precocious nine year old and the Lady of the Manor, to a caravan-dwelling grandfather and his mole-catching grandson. Fighting battles, both publicly and personally, and helping with other crises that rocked the community, Elisabeth realised just how much her new life meant to her.

A wonderfully entertaining story with heart-warming portraits of eccentric, gossiping adults and straight-talking children, this novel has all the light andshade of Gervase Phinn’s non-fiction Dales books.

GERVASE PHINN was a teacher, then General Adviser for Language Development in Rotherham before moving to North Yorkshire, where he spent ten years as a school inspector – which provided much source material for his books. He lives near Doncaster.

 This talk was arranged by Warwick Books for Warwick Words Xtra. We are delighted that Gervase’s publisher Hodder supported us in putting on this event. .

Meets at the Virgin and Castle Pub, High Street, Kenilworth,
4th Tuesday of every month 7.30 p.m. till about 9.30 p.m.

26th July: Kenilworth by Walter Scott
The Suspicions of Mr Whicher: or the Murder at Road Hill House by Kate Summerscale

23rd August: The Tiger’s Wife by Téa Obreht
The Finkler Question by Howard Jacobson

27th Sept: The World’s Wife by Carol Ann Duffy
Emma by Jane Austen

We are an informal and friendly group. Do come along and join us! Ring or text Victoria Lee on 0790 8899250, or Kenilworth Books on 01926 855784 for more information.

Next Meeting Tuesday 12th July 4.30pm Warwick Books

Everyone welcome!

Warwick Words presents its eighth poetry competition to find Warwick Poet Laureate 2010/2011. The competition is open to anyone aged 18 and over living in the West Midlands. You must send four poems including one poem based on the National Poetry Day theme of GAMES and a statement of interest.

The position of Warwick Poet Laureate is an honorary one, for which there is no payment. Candidates must be capable of writing good poetry and willing and able to perform their own work. The Laureate must be willing to get involved in key events and activities throughout the year. The Laureate will be commissioned to write some poems about Warwickshire throughout the year.

The winner and runners-up will have the opportunity to read their poems at the Festival Launch on Friday 30 September at 6.00pm at Warwick Court House.

Email Helen Meeke at info@warwickwords.co.uk for details.