It’s farewell to Norman Warwick, and hello to Shirley-Anne Kennedy and Eileen Earnshaw, as the current host of Write Out Loud Middleton steps down. Norman is swapping the Rochdale area for Lanzarote, and Shirley-Anne and Eileen will be following in his footsteps as co-comperes at Write Out Loud Middleton.

Write Out Loud’s founder, Julian Jordon, said: “I am very grateful to Norman for running the night for us for so long, and look forward to its future.”

Eileen Earnshaw is the facilitator at Weaving Words writing group which meets in Rochdale. Shirley-Anne already co-hosts the Kultura poetry night in Todmorden with Anthony Costello.  She is a member of several writing groups, including the Middleton-based Langley Writers. From September Eileen and Shirley-Anne will also be full-time creative writing students at Bolton University.  

The guest poet at Write Out Loud Middleton, at the Ring O’ Bells, St Leonards Square, Middleton, on Sunday 23 August is Ken Eaton Dykes. Entry is £2 to this open floor event, which starts at 7pm. More details and Map