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 John Bilsborough first made a name for comic verse in the folk clubs around the Pennines with recitations about his Great Uncle Jack building the Channel Tunnel, golf matches in Heaven, the further adventures of Albert Ramsbottom and other tall tales. He still tells them, in marble halls, muddy meadows, city squares, clubs, theatres, marquees, studios and posh hotels. And those odd rooms they still have, at the end of empty corridors in pubs. They've got a long history:  Nowadays he's a lot more tales to pick from. His task, as "resident poet", is always to write about whatever is topical and worth a fresh look, whether it's plumbing, space-travel, airport lounges, golf, romance, baked beans, the House of Lords or even the very first apple pie. Here's a taster from "A is for Apples".  John Bilsborough is a member of the Welsh Academy and the Arts Council of Wales "Writers on Tour" scheme, so some organisations may qualify for a grant towards his fee, which is modest enough to begin with. He‘ll fit in with any format and is happy to offer ideas of his own, but he doesn‘t want to judge any more limerick competitions, thank you. He will entertain your audience for an hour or an evening or visit your school for a week, or he‘ll stay at home and write something for you instead.  |