Monday 18 March 2013

Wear Valley Writers Have a New Home

Bishop Auckland Town Hall.

In 1993 Wear Valley Writers moved from the branch library at Woodhouse Close to the main library at Bishop Auckland Town Hall.  Their leader was Wendy Robertson, local author and teacher.
The group met as the library closed for the day; the atmosphere was bright and cheerful and of course very conducive to writing as our tables were surrounded by shelves full of novels that we hoped to emulate.

Town Hall Library

Over the years some of us have achieved this and our books have been launched at ceremonies hosted by the friendly and supportive Town Hall staff where, for a long time, Gillian Wales was manager. Wine was both provided and served on every occasion.
However, in 2013 the Recession hit the country and the libraries were obliged to make a charge for their rooms. As Wear Valley Writers is now a smaller, self-help group we were not able to meet those charges.
Sadly we said goodbye to the Town Hall library and its wonderful staff and looked elsewhere for a suitable place to meet. 
Our New Home.


We found one in the most unlikely of places – Asda Store, in Bishop Auckland offered us free use of its Community Room every Wednesday evening.  Walk through the store; past the Fish Counter and through a green door in the corner and discover a world of offices, staircases and a canteen.
Our room is on the ground floor with an enormous oval table and comfortable blue chairs.  Of course we miss the splendour of the Town Hall library, but we are most grateful to Asda for making us welcome.
Our writing and our friendship continue to flourish.

2 comments:

  1. So sad that the wonderful Wear Valley Writers have had to leave their natural home in Bishop Auckland Town Hall which welcomed us for so many years. But you have bright new premises and bright new ideas and, we hope, bright new writing. Good luck to you. Look out for Avril's short story book launch at the Town Hall next month, and for my Back to Basics four week caycle at the Town Hall from May 1st.

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  2. Hi Wendy, yes it is sad that we've had to move to new premises but we have memories of all those amazing Town Hall courses you ran that set so many of us on the road to becoming "real" writers. Thank you for that.

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