Multimedia Talks & Speaking Tours

I have been giving a series of talks in places like Luncheon Clubs, Men’s Forums, Womes Institutes and Social Clubs etc. My talks all draw from my personal life experiences. I use a full range of multimedia and usually bring my own equipment.

The talks usually last around 45 to 50 minutes with time for questions but I can adjust these to suit your situation. All my talks have a common thread of culture, creative art and heritage and are also spiced with a healthy dollop of humour.

‘“I’ve been coming here for years and we’ve had some good speakers but that guy this morning was the best I’ve seen. It was such a different sort of talk and the topic was unique” - Hartlepool Retired Men’s Forum.

“May I say how people on Monday were very taken with your presentation. Your subject was something very different. Full of pathos and a burning sense of injustice, it was very moving” - Larry Bruce Guisborough Retired Men’s Forum

"Ladies, here to tell us all about sex, drugs and rock and roll ……………..“ - Carol Charlton Heighington Women's Institute.

A SONGWRITERS LIFE

I have written songs for Celine Dion, Sheena Easton, Elkie Brooks, The Hollies, The Searchers, Sarah Brightman, The Tygers of Pan Tang, Baby Ford, Colin Blunstone, Elaine Page and Chris Farlowe. I have had hit singles and albums. My talk tells the stories behind these songs and artists and describes an incredible adventure. There are many anecdotes including the time I wrote a love song for two dolphins! The talk features insights into the music industry as well as before and after examples of some of the songs the artists referred to above recorded.

THE BATTLE OF STANHOPE (The Bonny Moorhen)

The “Battle of Stanhope” took place on December 7th, 1818. The Napoleonic wars had come to an end reducing the demand for lead for bullets; lead mining was an important industry in Weardale so dire poverty ensued. To make ends meet the lead miners took to hunting the ‘bonny moorhen’ which led to a famous battle between the poachers and the Prince Bishop’s gamekeepers. This talk tells two stories, one of the 1818 battle and the other a 2012 community play based on the story. Both are ripping yarns and a terrific adventure.

STEEL TOWN

This is an emotive story about a Town (Consett), a musical and a life (mine). I had been telling playwright Tom Kelly anecdotes about my time as an apprentice at Consett Steel Works. Then one day he handed me a synopsis for a new musical “Steel Town, a young man dreams of his escape from the Steel Works into the world of the music industry – a true story! This talk features images and video of times gone by and songs describing the end of Steel Making in Consett. There are laughs and tears!

JOBLING

William Jobling was the last man to be Gibbeted in England. The story is set against the harsh realities of life for northern mining families in the early nineteenth century and the beginnings of the unions would fight for justice and fairness for workers. I tell the story of William and Isabella whilst incorporating the songs and dialogue from a musical I wrote in 2017 making it a powerful and emotive piece of storytelling.

AMBASSADOR TO DIGITAL INCLUSION

I was appointed to the Ambassador to Digital Inclusion in a Lithuanian Republic. Seriously, I have the documentation from the president. I also earned the accolade of “One of Europe’s most original thinkers on community engagement using new technologies” I accidentally embarked upon a career in digital creativity that spanned 15 years culminating in a Vice Chancellors award for excellence in Community Engagement (University of Teesside) I’ve taught wikis in a Museum in Vienna, social media deep in a forest in Poland, multimedia in Germany and lectured in Heavy Metal at the University of Applied Sciences in Helsinki. I've also done some very innovative (or perhaps crazy) things. This story explains!

TALKING TOUR FOR 2019

Announcing a talking tour for the New Year. (unlike my other speaking engagements these are open to the public). This is in my home town of Consett, Country Durham UK

FACEBOOK Links to individual events 

24 Jan: https://bit.ly/2QQZaor

21 Feb: https://bit.ly/2QSVRgH

21 Mar: https://bit.ly/2QRQbU1