WEA writers on air at Radio Nightingale

Students from two South Yorkshire WEA Writers' Workshops recently visited Radio Nightingale hospital radio to record some of their poetry, stories and sketches for broadcast to patients.The students are members of WEA writing groups in Dodworth near Barnsley and Ship Hill Learning Centre in Rotherham, and were accompanied by WEA Creative Writing Tutor, Graham Rippon. The eight students were also joined by members of Rotherham Metro Writers Group who encourage local writers 'of all denominations' to share and show their work.

As well as being a tutor for the WEA, Graham is secretary of the Group and some WEA students are also members, - with regular meetings held at local pub Nellie Denes to further Rotherham's literary cause!

The trip to Radio Nightingale came about after Graham responded to a letter calling for help with fund-raising for the station. Always on the lookout for openings to help his students progress, Graham approached station manager Mel Jacques with a hopeful enquiry about the possibility of making a recording, and the idea was readily taken on board by Mel and by students in Graham's class.

Victor Speight of Dodworth Writers' Workshop gets ready to record one of his own stories at the Radio Nightingale studio. © Graham Rippon.

The group arrived at the station at 6.00pm in time for the last recording of the evening. As the studio is very small the group were unable to sit in on proceedings, but this gave everyone a chance to meet, chat and make acquaintance with station manager Mel and to learn more about Radio Nightingale, which added to the pleasure of the trip.

The material recorded will form part of the station's "sustainable stock" to be broadcast in regular short slots during 2005. This was a new venture for both the radio station and the writers and one that Graham and the group hope to repeat next year.

The station is a voluntary charity with only one paid member of staff - Mel Jacques, the station manager - so Mel was delighted to have such practical support. Sarah, his assistant, provided CDs of the recordings which the WEA students aim to edit, hoping to sell copies to raise a few pounds for the station. The two classes are also planning small booklets of their writings to sell in support of Radio Nightingale.

The Dodworth and Rotherham Writing Workshops cater for all ages and for anyone who is interested in writing for pleasure or in a professional capacity. The Dodworth group meets Monday evenings in their local library and the Rotherham group meets in the Ship Hill Learning Centre. Although many students started as novice writers some have been lucky enough to see their work published.

Further information about the WEA Writers Workshops in Barnsley and Rotherham can be obtained from:

Graham Rippon
Creative Writing Tutor
WEA Yorkshire and Humber Region
South Chantry Buildings
6 - 20 Corporation Street
Rotherham
S60 1NG
Tel: 01708 837001
Fax: 01709 372121
E-mail: grippon@wea.org.uk

Radio Nightingale is a registered charity, staffed by volunteers, based in Rotherham General Hospital. Further information about the station can be obtained from:

Radio Nightingale
Rotherham General Hospital
Moorgate Road
Rotherham
S60 2UD
Tel: 01709 304244
Fax: 01709 304718
E-mail: admin@radionightingale.org.uk
Web: www.radionightingale.org.uk