School inspector will be at festival
COMEDIAN, author, poet, broadcaster, lecturer, educational guru, speaker and born raconteur, Gervase Phinn will be making a welcome return to the Literature and Ideas Festival.
Gervase will be talking about his life and his writing, while giving an insight into his latest book, The School at the Top of the Dale.
This is the first novel in a new series and the latest from this bestselling author. As with much of his writing, this new book is a warm and humorous portrayal of life in a small Yorkshire village, full of colourful characters and laugh-out-loud moments.
Newly qualified teacher Tom Dwyer has been given his first post in Risingdale, a sleepy little village at the very top of the Yorkshire Dales.
Unsure if he’ll ever fit into this close-knit community, Tom joins a motley crew of staff at the village school.
With pupils who know more about sheep than they do arithmetic, Tom has his work cut out for him. Add to that an altercation with the beautiful but stand-offish Miss Janette Fairborn and an argument with the local squire’s son, Tom’s first term proves a baptism of fire.
However, Tom soon finds himself growing fond of Risingdale and with a class of lively and demanding pupils, an end of term show to put on and a jewellery thief at large, he will find himself at the centre of drama, revealed secrets and plenty of love, laughter and new friendships.
For 14 years, Gervase taught in a range of schools. He then acted as general adviser for language development in Rotherham before moving on to north Yorkshire, where he spent 10 years as a school inspector – time that has provided much source material for his books.
Gervase is perhaps best known for his warmhearted reminiscences about his life as a school inspector in the Yorkshire Dales and for his bestselling Little Village School series of novels.
Affectionately dubbed ‘the James Herriot of schools,’ he also has written a wide range of academic books, short stories, children’s poetry and fiction.
He has four grown up children and four grandchildren and lives near Doncaster.
See Gervase on Monday, October 15, from 6pm to 7pm at Rochdale Parish Church, St Chad’s, Sparrow Hill, Rochdale.
Tickets cost £10. Form more information, visit rochdaleliteraturefestival. co.uk.