Chattering at School

The poems in this collection include fun narratives on the surface, while containing learning and teaching moments as the poems unfold. The book has lovely illustrations and is full of moral lessons.

The introduction to Chattering at School: Nature poems for children explains that these poems were written by a schoolboy aged 11 to 18 (1951-58) during his annual summer holiday visits to his grandmother on her small farm in Ireland. She had been his carer and guardian from the time of the German Blitz of London where he was born, and lived with her until the war ended in 1945. He then returned to his unknown parents, who had been unable to visit him in Ireland from the UK during the war.

Over 60 years later, the author of these poems – Edward Forde Hickey – discovered them (his own schoolboy attempts at writing poetry) lying in the attic and felt they were worth recording publicly.

About the Author

Edward Forde Hickey is a retired Headteacher and has written eight books to date, each with an element of folk culture.

Edward lives in Kent with his wife. They have three sons. During the years 1962 until 1998, he taught in inner city primary schools (laterally as a headteacher for 18 years). In early life, he was a pop star with Decca records (see ‘Eddie Hickey/Lady May’) and later sang with the Glenside Ceilidhe Band in The Galtymore Dancehall, Cricklewood (1965/1975).

Born of Irish parents during the Blitz of London, he spent his first five years of life nurtured and moulded by his grandmother in the foothills above Dolla, near Nenagh in County Tipperary. His grandmother is and always was his inspiration; she had a natural gift with words.

Edward has always been interested in folklore and the Irish past (its music, dance and literature). He was a champion Irish step-dancer. He taught and adjudicated it, even as far afield as in Australia, before dedicating himself to research into hillside communities in north Tipperary, from where he brought back tapes of original songs for The English Folk Dance and Song Society.

He keeps a small farm in the foothills of north Tipperary and visits it often.

Reviews

“This collection of poems about the natural world will stimulate children’s imagination and hopefully inspire them to get to know more about their environment and protect it. It should have wide general appeal for children of all ages; both for parents to read to young children and for older children to read themselves.” – Darin & Aimee Jewell

“Edward has a lovely style where he effortlessly combines the world of history, folklore and fiction. He manages to switch from humour to sadness and takes the reader willingly along with him.” – M. G. Darmody, Tipperary Studies Centre

“Chattering at School” by Edward Forde Hickey is currently available in paperback from Amazon at:

This poetry collection is also available to download in e-book format from Amazon at:

Press/Media Contact Details:

Grosvenor House Publishing
Tel. 0208 339 6060
E-mail: [email protected]

#########################################################################################################

The Renegade

It is early 1854 and war looms with Tsarist Russia. James Rutherford and his ship Spartan are transferred to Royal Navy service and given a role patrolling Oriental waters in search of a powerful enemy warship which seeks to prey upon allied shipping. Reluctant to be confined to such tedium, Rutherford adopts a more proactive approach but this will lead to grave risks for Spartan’s crew.

Martin Hicks lives in Fraserburgh in Scotland and began writing after a career in education. The Renegade is his sixteenth book and the fourth Spartan story. He is currently working on a fifth title in the series.

About the Author

Martin Hicks lives in Fraserburgh in Scotland and began writing after a career in education. He has since published a number of novels between 1850 – 65.

Books by the Same Author

A Season for Killing (2007)
A Deepening Twilight (2007)
A Gathering of Soldiers (2008)
Hard Passage North (2009)
The Rappahannock Line (2011)
Mirage of Victory (2012)
The Bitterest Enemy (2013)
Bond of Blood (2014)
Palmetto (2015)
An Instrument of War (2016)
Nothing Without Honour (2017)
The Turn of Fate (2018)
An Independent Command (2019)
The Trail of the Scorpion (2020)
The Final Stronghold (2021)

“The Renegade” by Martin Hicks is available in paperback from Amazon UK at:

The e-book is also available to purchase from Amazon at:

Press/Media Contact Details:

Darin Jewell
Managing Director
Inspira Group Literary Agency
Tel. 0208 292 5163
E-mail: [email protected]