Amazing Accrington - Winter Writing Trail

#AmazingAccrington Winter Writing Trail: ✍🏻 Christmas Lives Here by Julie Hesmondhalgh for Maundy Grange Julie grew up in Church, Accrington and went to Hyndburn Park, Moorhead High School and Accrington and Rossendale College. She is an actor and writer. Her latest book, An Actor’s Alphabet is published by Nick Hern Books. She is the proud patron of Maundy Relief. 🗣️ Read by Julie Hesmondhalgh...

Originally from Blackburn, STEVE PEMBERTON is an actor, comedian, director, and writer, often with his team The League of Gentlemen. He has won multiple BAFTA awards, and his many top TV appearances include Benidorm, Doctor Who, Happy Valley, and Killing Eve.

#AmazingAccrington Winter Writing Trail: ✍🏻 The Wind and I by Aaye Noor, aged 13, The Hollins 🗣️ Read by Jason Watkins Jason is an English stage, film and television actor. He played the lead role in the two-part drama The Lost Honour of Christopher Jeffries, for which he won the BAFTA TV Award for Best Actor. Jason, originally from Albrighton in Shropshire, has also featured in Being Human, Trol...

#AmazingAccrington Winter Writing Trail: ✍🏻 Accrington Pals by Rosie Adamson-Clark Rosie was born in East Yorkshire to an Irish Mum and half Scots Dad. She moved to Lancashire in 1981 with a 3 month old baby. She is a Quaker, and very proud to be an adopted Lancashire lass now. She taught at Accrington and Rossendale College from 1991 to 1997. 🗣️ Read by Rosie Adamson-Clark 📍View this story at L...

#AmazingAccrington Winter Writing Trail: ✍🏻 I am the Snow by Elias Ford, aged 13, The Hollins 🗣️ Read by Joe Duttine Joe is an English film, theatre and television actor. He currently plays Tim Metcalfe in Coronation Street and is also known for his role in Shameless as Cameron Donnelly, the father of Maxine. 📍 View this story at Snowdrop Doula, Arndale Centre, 🙌🏻 Prize sponsored by Jamesons P...

#AmazingAccrington Winter Writing Trail: ✍🏻 Christmas Days by Jeanette Winterson CBE Jeanette Winterson CBE is a multi-award winning author who was brought up in Accrington. Her first book, a semi-autobiographical novel, Oranges Are Not the Only Fruit, won the Whitbread Prize for Literature, and the subsequent TV adaptation, some of which was filmed in Accrington, a BAFTA. She has kindly allowed...

#AmazingAccrington Winter Writing Trail: ✍🏻 This is Winter by Ezra Emmett, aged 13, The Hollins 🗣️ Read by Toby Jones: Toby is widely regarded as one of the greatest stage and screen actors both in Great Britain and internationally. These include Dobby the House Elf in Harry Potter, Indiana Jones, Captain America, The Detectorists, Dad’s Army, Jurassic World and many more. 📍 View this story at C...

#AmazingAccrington Winter Writing Trail: ✍🏻 Billy & Jack by Ian Kershaw 🗣️ Ian Kershaw: Ian was born and brought up in Oldham and is a writer for theatre, radio and television. He is part of the Coronation Street writing team, and is married to an Accy Girl, whose mum introduced him to the Lancashire expression “suited to bits.” 📍View this story at Seventy Bob Barbers & Hairdressing, 7 Peel St,...

#AmazingAccrington Winter Writing Trail: ✍🏻 Christmas Story by Oliver Flynn, aged 8, St John’s Stonefield CE Primary School 🗣️ Read by Dominic Brunt: Dominic is an actor, director and writer, and plays Paddy in Emmerdale. He lived in Accrington on Burnley Road from 1981 until 1991. He attended Accrington Moorhead High School. On leaving school he worked as a sheet metal worker in Great Harwood an...

#AmazingAccrington Winter Writing Trail: ✍🏻 I was raised in a land of mills and drizzle by David Hesmondhalgh 🗣️ David Hesmondhalgh: David was born and raised in Accrington, taught at Accrington and Rossendale College and is now a Professor at the University of Leeds. He has written several books including Why Music Matters. 📍View this story at Church Street Chippy, 27 Church St, Accrington 🎧 L...

#AmazingAccrington Winter Writing Trail: ✍🏻 How I spent my Last Christmas by Christine Oriaku, aged 10, St Peters CE Primary School 🗣️ Read by Tupele Dorgu: Tupele is from Preston and is an actress and voice-over artist. Best known for playing Kelly Crabtree in Coronation Street from 2004 to 2010, Tupele has also appeared on Hollyoaks and performed in many musicals, including the West End product...

#AmazingAccrington Winter Writing Trail: ✍🏻 An Accrington Christmas by Joe Alessi 🗣️ Read by Joe Alessi: Joe is an Olivier award-nominated actor who was born and brought up in Accrington by his Sicilian mum and dad, Angela and Giuseppe. 📍View this story at Cafe Ri-An, 5 Stanley St, Accrington BB5 6PR 🎧 Listen here - https://opportunities.amazingaccrington.co.uk/winter-writing-trail/#JoeAlessi

#AmazingAccrington Winter Writing Trail: ✍🏻 The Lights by Abiyya Iqbal, aged 14, The Hollins 🗣️ Read by Minar Anwar: Minar was born in Church, Accrington and is a British actress and singer. She is best known for her roles as Constable Maggie Habib in The Thin Blue Line and Gita Chandra in The Sarah Janes Adventures. 📍 View this story at Space 2 Make, 70-72 Blackburn Rd, Accrington, BB5 1LE 🙌🏻...

#AmazingAccrington Winter Writing Trail: ✍🏻 Bonfire Night Eve by Dominic Brunt 🗣️ Read by Dominic Brunt: Dominic is an actor, director and writer, and plays Paddy in Emmerdale. He lived in Accrington on Burnley Road from 1981 until 1991. He attended Accrington Moorhead High School. On leaving school he worked as a sheet metal worker in Great Harwood and later as a welder in Accrington. 📍 View th...

#AmazingAccrington Winter Writing Trail: ✍🏻 The Heart of Winter’s Grip by Natalia Kozubinska 🗣️ Read by Suranne Jones: Surrane was born in Greater Manchester and is an actress and writer best known for appearing in Vigil, Gentleman Jack, Doctor Foster, Scott & Bailey and Coronation Street. 📍 View this story at Accrington Market, Peel St, Accrington, BB5 1ER 🙌🏻 Prize sponsored by Accrington Mar...

JODIE WHITTAKER is an English actress, who came to prominence after her breakout performance in Venus. In 2017 she made history as the thirteenth actor and first woman to play the Doctor in Doctor Who. Born in Skelmanthorpe, North Yorkshire, she has also played leading roles as Beth Latimer in Broadchurch and Orla O’Riordan in Time.

#AmazingAccrington Winter Writing Trail: ✍🏻 One of Our Defenders is Sinking by David Swann 🗣️ Read by Dave Swann: Dave was born and raised in Accrington, where he later became a reporter on the Observer, covering Stanley’s matches and interviewing people about flying saucers over the Coppice. His novella, Season of Bright Sorrow, was named Rubery Book of the Year, 2023. He learned everything he k...

#AmazingAccrington Winter Writing Trail: ✍🏻 My Winter Poem by Ismail Hussain, The Hollins 🗣️ Read by Muzz Khan: Hailing from Burnley Lancashire, Muzz is an actor, comedy writer, performer and professional DJ. Quirky, uncensored, and idiosyncratic, he is quickly becoming known in the entertainment industry for the characters he has brought to life on screen. From television, film, theatre, and mus...

#AmazingAccrington Winter Writing Trail: ✍🏻 Building the World by Connor Evans Connor is a graduate from the University of Salford’s Drama and Creative Writing course. With family ties to Accrington, he finds inspiration in the strong sense of working-class pride and identity that surrounds the town. 🗣️ Read by Connor Evans: 📍 View this story at Colin Whitcombe & Sons Jewellers, 50-54 Warner St,...

#AmazingAccrington Winter Writing Trail: ✍🏻 Hannah’s Happiest Day by Harriet Pearson, aged 11, Altham St James’ CE Primary School 🗣️ Read by Sally Carman-Duttine: Sally is an English actor, well known for portraying the roles of Kelly Maguire in Shameless and Abi Frankin in Coronation Street. 📍 View this story at Sweet Child of Mine, 6 Peel St, Accrington BB5 1EA 🙌🏻 Prize sponsored by The Craf...

#AmazingAccrington Winter Writing Trail: ✍🏻 The Dream by Violet Grace Whittaker, aged 8, St Anne’s St Josephs RC Primary School 🗣️ Read by Katherine Kelly: Katherine was born in Barnsley and comes from a theatrical family. After attending the Royal Academy of Dramatic Art, she appeared in Coronation Street as “Becky”, and won a National Television Award in 2022 for Best Serial Drama Performance....

#AmazingAccrington Winter Writing Trail: ✍🏻 The Christmas Wish by Miley Greaves, aged 10, St Andrews Primary School 🗣️ Read by Sally Dynevor Sally Dynevor is a British actor best known for her role as Sally Metcalfe on Coronation Street, a role which she has played since 1986. 📍 View this story at OASST Accrington Stanley Shop, Arndale Centre, Accrington 🙌🏻 Prize sponsored by Roslee Constructi...

#AmazingAccrington Winter Writing Trail: ✍🏻 Countdown by Martin Cooper 🗣️ Read by Martin Cooper: Martin is an actor, presenter and producer who was part of the team at East Lancashire’s number-one radio station 107fm The Bee from 2006-2011. Here he recollects his times of hosting the Accrington Christmas Lights switch on events each year. 📍 View this story at 2 Sisters Cafe & Bistro, 33 Warner S...

#AmazingAccrington Winter Writing Trail: ✍🏻 The Boy with the Perpetual Nervousness by Graham Caveney: Graham was born and raised in Accrington. He is the author of five books, including his critically acclaimed memoirs The Boy with the Perpetual Nervousness and On Agoraphobia. 🗣️ Read by Joe Alessi: Joe is an Olivier award-nominated actor who was born and brought up in Accrington by his Sicilian...

JULIE HESMONDHALGH grew up in Church, Accrington and went to Hyndburn Park, Moorhead High School and Accrington and Rossendale College. She is an actor and writer. Her latest book, An Actor’s Alphabet is published by Nick Hern Books. She is the proud patron of Maundy Relief.