Two organisers of regular Write Out Loud Nights – Ian Whiteley (Wigan) and Jeff Dawson, aka Jeffarama! (Bolton) – have teamed up with fellow members of their Bard Company poetry and music band to produce a book during lockdown.

The other two members of Bard Company are Gordon Zola (fellow compere with Jeff at Bolton), and Tony Kinsella. Their self-deprecatingly titled Little Read Book of comedy and poetry, jokes and images was put together “to keep active during lockdown” and launched last week - online, of course.

Ian said: “We’d recorded the CD and arranged a 12-date tour, only for the pandemic to interrupt us after just one gig. [The book] is in the spirit of our live show which includes jokes, satire, songs and poetry.”

Bard Company – “the world’s wrinkliest Boy Band” - describe themselves as “four middle-aged blokes ranting and raving against society. But we do it with aplomb and vigour. Sometimes.”

You can buy a copy of the Little Read Book  - “a collection of lyrics, poetry, jokes, pictures, satire and information” - here. And listen to the band’s stirring CD Raising The Standards here