December 05, 2018 - 1579 views
Coleg Llandrillo has recognised several members of its staff who are published authors during this year's National Libraries Week initiative.
National Libraries Week has taken place to celebrate the nation's much-loved libraries. This year, with a focus on wellbeing, libraries across the country showcased how they bring communities together, combat loneliness, provide a space for reading and creativity and support people with their mental health.
The library on the college's Rhos-on-Sea campus joined over 1,000 libraries in celebrating the well-being gained by creative reading and writing. Staff produced a display of books by authors based in North Wales, including some talented staff members!
Multimedia artist and film-maker Dr Neil Coombs, who teaches Film and Media Studies at the college's Rhos-on-Sea Campus, has had his own work published and exhibited both nationally and internationally. He also beat off global competition to publish two books by the renowned scientist, writer, broadcaster and surrealist artist Desmond Morris.
Neil published a collection of surreal works from local, national and international artists, named 'Patricide', and has also had a collection of his own surrealist work - 'The Phantoms of Surrealism' - exhibited at a local gallery, following a successful showing at Bodelwyddan Castle.
Learning Resource Assistant, Gina Maddison, has recently had her autobiographical story of growing up in Birmingham in the fifties and sixties published. It is entitled "The Girl from Guildford Street: Growing up in working class Birmingham 1957-1968" and describes being raised in the Lozells district of Birmingham.
The author, her sister and her cousins were the last generation to grow up in the back-to-backs: Birmingham council houses, two-up, one-down - with no bathroom, inside toilet, central heating or hot running water - centred around a back yard with outside toilets, sheds and a wash house. The author's parents both worked in local factories at a time when manufacturing was booming in Birmingham.
Brian Woosnam, who is the college's print shop assistant, wrote a book entitled 'Life on Mars'. He is a keen astronomer and writes regular columns for North Wales weekly newspapers. He was a friend of renowned stargazer Patrick Moore, working with him on several projects.
Creative Arts tutor, Dewi Hughes, along with his students, recently celebrated after their end-of-year digital graphics project book won a gold award at an international design awards competition in Los Angeles. They scooped gold in the 'Graphic Design/Print Self Promotion' category for their yearbook at the 'IDA International Design Awards' in California, beating off stiff competition from around the world.
And, Beauty Therapy tutor, Sharon Grieve has written and published a collection of children's poems.
