Rochdale in Rhyme and Weaving Words - a joyous celebration of inspirational poetry.

Review by Steve Cooke

A Saturday afternoon in Rochdale Central Library on a sunny Spring day proved to be a joyous celebration of inspirational poetry from professional poets hand in hand with budding local wordsmiths.

Rochdale in Rhyme was not only one of the highlights of Rochdale’s year as GM Town of Culture but a fitting finale to the wonderful Sammy Weaver’s year as Rochdale’s Poet Laureate.

It had all started with the serendipitous coincidence of  Councillor Janet Emsley becoming Mayor of the Borough of Rochdale with Rochdale receiving the award of Greater Manchester Town of Culture. Janet has been throughout her time as an elected Councillor a very energetic and highly effective champion of the creative arts community and therefore the perfect person to be a catalyst for what was to be become a massively impactful year.

Inspired by a phone call from local artist Liz White Janet exercised her Mayoral prerogative to appoint a Poet Laureate.

Sammy Weaver was appointed alongside two young poets in residence Alende Amisi and Sasha Mostafa, appointments that proved to be essential to a wonderful year culminating in Rochdale in Rhyme and the launch of the superb poetry anthology Weaving Words.

Rochdale in Rhyme was hosted by Tony Walsh a poet who is a regular on television and radio, much in demand for a huge range of high-profile occasions, and renowned internationally for the now iconic performance of his poem “This Is The Place” in the wake of the Manchester Arena bombing in 2017.

His passion for poetry and genuine warmth gave the occasion the perfect vibe to create an atmosphere of inclusivity and collective joy as he put a metaphorical arm around the performers who ranged in age from 10 to 81, some of whom had written their first ever poems and were making their inaugural live performances.

The poems they performed are all included in the anthology Weaving Words alongside a superb complementary  selection from Sammy, Alende and Amisi. As Sammy says, “This is poetry by the people for the people that captures the joys and griefs of being human.”

The collection reflects the outcomes of extensive workshops and community sessions led by Sammy ,whose skills as a poet and teacher were enhanced by her beautiful personality enabling and inspiring a diverse group of people to find their voice through poetry.

Sammy led 10 poetry workshops in community settings with adults, linked up with local writing groups, HMP Buckley Hall, U3A, Living Well sessions, and refugee and asylum-seeker groups, plus 20 workshops with primary school children in local libraries.

Rochdale in Rhyme opened with Tony, Sammy, Alende and Amisi treating us to some of their skilfully crafted poems, taking us on a roller coaster journey through the whole human experience.

One of my personal highlights among many being Tony’s Poppadoms and Custard, a fitting powerful and timely celebration of diversity.

Eileen Earnshaw read Maggie Kelly’s Lancashire Voices; Kirsty Olczak, What the walls know; 10 year old Rania Faisal, A potion to end wars; Beth Kilgallon, In love with myself; Farhan Zahoor, The Book and Councillor Janet Emsley Mayor Rochdale, AOB: Mayoral Matters.

These poems plus many others collected in Weaving Words are an uplifting and thoroughly engaging reflection of what Sammy calls, “our people, our places, and the moments that make this borough feel like home”.

Copies are available to buy for £10 each at local libraries across the borough.

I strongly advise you to visit your local library and buy a copy, you will not be disappointed!

There are also accompanying Library Poetry Exhibitions across the borough.

Huge congratulations and thanks to Sammy Weaver who as our first ever Poet Laureate has more than done justice to our borough of 235,561 people speaking over 80 languages and ranging from the Pennine villages to the post-industrial estates of Darnhill.

If you now feel ready to get creative yourself visit: www.rochdalecreates.co.uk to find out more.