Announcement - Wivenhoe Creatives are adopting Off the Rails

As most of you will know, George and Charmaine have been looking for someone to take over the running of Off the Rails. I can happily announce that I will be the main point of contact for the project, and as a whole, it'll be subsumed under Wivenhoe Creatives (CIC to be).

So what’ll change?

In form, it'll be doing the same things as the excellent team have done all these years.  Into the future though we’ll be looking at ways of making it financially sustainable.

Sue Dawes will be producing two more editions of Words Down The Line before it has a revamp/relaunch in the autumn.

As for the art display boxes, we’ll be doing something for the Wild about Wivenhoe festivities in May, and after that have a regular change of artwork.

We’ll be posting about the project on the Wivenhoe Creatives site, blog, and Facebook page and group, though we’ll create a link so that the back catalogue can be seen. We’ll also at some point decide what to do about the OTR Facebook page. 

I know running everything through another set of platforms seems like a big change, but having too many digital platforms to manage (particularly for what is a volunteer role) can be confusing and exhausting (for the Wivenhoe Creatives group and me).

The advantage is that we can use Facebook’s ad function to publicise exhibitions and poetry. We also have a monthly newsletter, and we’ll dedicate a section of that to OTR.

We hope you’ll want to make the transition with us.

If anyone would like to help or if you have any thoughts on the project get in touch at wivenhoecreatives@gmail.com.

New Words Down the Line

The latest issue of WDTL is now at the station for you to take, with contributions from:

Norah Mulligan

Norah, aged 91, is a former professional verse speaker and voice teacher who has recently taken up writing poetry.

Candyce Lange

Candyce has been writing for years, lives in Clacton, likes to hang out in Wivenhoe with some great friends.

Philippa Hawley

Philippa is a member of two local writing groups and enjoys writing flash fiction, short stories and occasional poetry. She has had articles published in the field of travel writing and is currently working on her third novel.

Lelia Ferro

Lelia is an MA Creative Writing student at the University of Essex. She also has an MA in Multimedia Journalism and a Post Graduate Diploma in Psychodynamic Approaches. Lelia spent nearly 20 years working in the media in London, before deciding to focus on her creative writing. She mainly writes poetry about hidden voices in the Essex landscape. She has lived in Wivenhoe for 10 years, and has had several poems published in Words Down the Line.

Bryan Thomas

Bryan is a local architect. He has written poetry since his early twenties and three years ago joined the Creative Writing group at The Wivenhoe Bookshop to learn about another funny endeavour – Prose. 

Illustrations are by Charmaine McKissock.

Autumn Issue of WDTL

The new WDTL is at the station.  If you can't get there to pick up a copy, please view it on our separate page.

Summer Artwork on Wivenhoe Station

In the 3 poster cabinets on Platform 2, and in the Booking Hall cabinets, we exhibit art in various kinds of media, produced by local artists, both amateur and professional. The exhibits are usually viewed from Platform 1 across the railway tracks, to cheer up the morning commuters and delight/challenge/inspire travelers awaiting their trains. 

Artwork by Maggie Bernstein

There is also a bookshelf containing free books for you to borrow on your journey. Why not bring us some new ones in exchange, when you next visit the station. 

We have a winner!

The Children's Poetry competition has been judged by local poet, Alex Toms, and the winning poem chosen.  Well done to Lewis H for his poem: 'Holiday to the moon'.  Lewis is a pupil at Elmstead Primary School.  Runners up included children from Broomgrove Junior School, Elmstead and Fingeringhoe.  For more about the judge and her winning selection please see our WDTL page on this blog.

Childhood edition of WDTL now at the station

The new edition of Words Down The Line is now at Wivenhoe Station, featuring writing from Emma Kittle-Pey, Candyce Lange and Elaine Green. Photographs by Polly Allerton, cover by Charmaine McKissock.

Children's Poetry Competition

A special Haiku edition of WDTL is now at Wivenhoe station.

For anyone that can't make it to the station, you can find the content of this leaflet (and past leaflets) on our separate 'Words Down the Line' blog page.

The Station Angel

We have designed a new poster to attract local artists, crafters and writers to exhibit with us.The Station Angel will look after trains, passengers and visitors to Wivenhoe Station, whilst hopefully encouraging people to share their work in our showcases.

Children's poetry competition 2015.

Out of the 233 entries in our poetry competition, 1st place was awarded to Martha Jane Thomas, age 10 of Elmstead Primary School, 2nd place was awarded to Jake Guy, age 8, of Broomgrove Primary school, 3rd place to Luke Triscott, age 10 of Elmstead Primary School, and 4th place to Sulafah, age 10, of Broomgrove Primary School.  Runners up included: Callum Burgess, Gemma Coppel, Edward Crysell,  Ruthie Brooks-Steele, Alfie and Jole Peter Thomson.
Copies of WDTL can be found at Wivenhoe Station and on our WDTL page.
These were the comments from the judge, Alex Toms, on the winners:

1st Place : 'The Butterfly's Visit' by Martha Jane Thomas
From the first line, I knew this poem would be special! Many poems try to capture those fleeting, inexpressible moments we all have, and this poem brilliantly does just that . The simple, but lyrical language builds up to the final, beautiful image of the butterfly's "feather of a body/ perch[ing] itself on [the speaker's] hand". Well done, Martha Jane!

2nd Place: 'Birth of Sunflowers' by Jake Guy
Abracazebra!! Just like the sunflowers, this poem jumped out at me with its inventiveness and originality. There are some memorable moments in this poem, for example, the "Cyclops marching" and the seeds like zebras. I'd like to see more poems by Jake in the future.

3rd Place: 'Message for the fielder who caught me out' by Luke Triscott
I chose this poem simply because it makes me laugh! I've read it several times and it never fails to bring a smile to my lips!

4th Place: 'Summer' by Sulafah
Cuckoos featured in many of the poems I judged, but Sulafah was the only poet who thought of using the actual sound a cuckoo makes as a refrain. This poem is simple, but beautiful and effective.

The Summer edition of WDTL - in time for Wivenhoe Regatta.

With prose and poetry by Candyce Lange, Bryan Thomas, Philippa Hawley and Heather Edwards. Illustrations by Charmaine McKissock, produced by Sue Dawes. Please see our dedicated 'WDTL' page for more information.

The Winter edition of WDTL

The new edition of WDTL is now at Wivenhoe station, beautifully illustrated by Charmaine McKissock.  Biographies of our writers can be found on the dedicated 'WDTL' page on this blog.

January to March 2015 exhibition

The three exhibitors are Olga Brynza, who makes digital collages based on Soviet songs; John Morgan whose illustrated poems stem from his love of combining visual art, poetry and folksong; and Colin McAllistter whose drawing interests include cartooning and off the beaten track scenes of his hometown Colchester. 

To find out more see us on Facebook https://www.facebook.com/pages/Crab-Winkle-Gallery

To apply for an exhibition: email: janeostler@gmail.com,
or visit http://www.janeostler.co.uk/images.html

WDTL- Autumn Edition

The Autumn Edition of WDTL is now at the station.

WDTL - Summer Edition

George and Charmaine putting up their last exhibition

In August 2014, George and Charmaine put up their last exhibition of Jane Watson's work, before handing over to another Jane (Jane Ostler) - the new curator of the Crab and Winkle Gallery. Jane Ostler can be contacted on janeostler@gmail.com if you would like to apply to exhibit your art or craft work.

ALL CHANGE! NEW PROJECT VOLUNTEERS....

It’s virtually ‘all change’ at our station project. Charmaine & George McKissock
are taking more of a back seat, and making way for new & enthusiastic
curators of our Art Exhibitions, and our ‘Words down the Line’ writers
leaflets.

Jane Ostler, who has previously exhibited with us (remember her
‘orange-themed’ exhibition?), will be looking after future art exhibitions on
the platforms & booking hall. Joining her will be Sue Dawes (who was once
responsible for the art exhibitions at the station), who will be taking charge
of local writers work showcased in our ‘Words Down the Line’ leaflets.

Our latest exhibition will display the work of local artist Jane Watson,
featuring a display of family pets on platform 2, and two Colne-side scenes in
the booking hall cabinets. We’ll also be featuring the work of Hilary Lazell
& Martin Newell, with a piece called ‘Leaves Down the Line’ on platform 1,
which features Hilary’s illustrations & Martin’s text (apparently also
available in advent calendar format). Jane can be contacted on:
janeostler@gmail.com

Sue Dawes first ‘Words Down the Line’ leaflet features the work of
Jonathan King, Helen Chambers & Nicole Weller, and also features some
useful contact details for a variety of creative groups. Again, these leaflets
are available free in the station booking hall.
Sue Dawes can be contacted on: dawes@freeuk.com

We’re also celebrating our second anniversary of ‘Books Down the Line’,
which has proved very popular since the Garrett’s initial donation of bookcase
& books back in 2012. A big thank you to all who have contributed to the
success of this project: your kindly (& timely!) donations have almost
ensured that this initiative has become ‘self-managing’ !

We’re going to continue to manage the latter, and keep an overview of
the ‘Off the Rails’ project, including the station garden, (many thanks for all
your kind & supportive words during Gardens Open Day), so our train hasn’t
quite left the station yet…

WDTL Summer 2014 edition

Words Down the Line will be available to take on your journey from tomorrow, at Wivenhoe station (and at a later date, Colchester station).  This Summer edition sees writing from both beginners and the more advanced, as well as some useful information on groups in the area.

If you are a writer (both beginner and advanced) and fancy a stab at composing something on the subject of 'Autumn' (this can be 'change', the landscape or an interpretation of your choice), we are taking submissions until the end of September, for the October publication.

Please send your stories/memoirs (of 250 words or less) or poetry to dawesue@gmail.com.  All writing will be forwarded to a guest editor who will decide what will appear in the next publication.

Jane Watson and Hilary Lazell: Summer Exhibition

From the beginning of August 2014 right through till autumn, Jane Watson will be exhibiting her paintings in the Ticket Hall and in the Crab and Winkle Gallery on Platform One .

Jane is a self taught artist.  She likes to paint boldly with bright colours in oil or acrylic and has produced a collection of colourful paintings of various subject matters. Jane says “there is a passion within my soul that drives me to experiment with colour primarily and with different shapes and ideas”.  Her inspiration comes from nature and particularly the changing landscape around the river with the rise and fall of the tide.  Jane also produces a range of colourful greetings cards.

You can see more of Jane’s work on her website www.janewatsonart.com, and in the 'Art's section of this site.


Wivenhoe artist Hilary Lazell will be contributing a beautiful new illustrated poetry poster “Leaves Down the Line” on Platform 1. Hilary has been scribbling away with pens, pencils, ink and paper for most of her life.  The combination of words and pictures is fundamental to all her work and this poster is no exception.  “Leaves Down the Line” illustrates lines by poet Martin Newell.

The images with poetry are available as A1 posters and a very nifty little advent calendar in a jewel case. Ideal presents. Contact Hilary Lazell:  hilarylazell@hotmail.com 

Wild About Wivenhoe

From April 25th to May 18th, there will be a range of  special wildlife events in Wivenhoe. Off the Rails is joining in!

We are offering a nature-themed edition of Words Down the Line (free as usual in the Ticket Hall ); an exhibition of wildlife photography & poetry (on the platforms), and opening the newly-planted Station Garden on May 18th. To celebrate the opening, there will be special artwork in the garden and kids' activities and goodies.

Please come and visit us at Wivenhoe Station on the 18th from11am till 4pm. We would love to show you around.