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The power of words: Ian Clayton celebrates his daughter's life on World Book Day
Ian Clayton, who describes himself as a storyteller, writer, broadcaster and performer, has done just that in his new book Our Billie. It tells of how he lost one of his twins, aged nine, in a canoeing accident in 2006 and how he was able to save her brother, Edward, from fast-flowing water of the river at Hay-on-Wye, Powys, Wales. 'It's a sort of modern urban folk/fairytale about parenting, loss, friendship, carrying on and standing up for stuff,' he said. Ian will be reading from and signing copies of his new book at an event on Friday, April 23, held by unionlearn, the TUC's learning and skills organisation, at the LOGIK Centre, Leeds University, to celebrate World Book and Copyright Day. The day is a worldwide celebration and tribute to authors and books and aims to encourage people to discover the pleasure of reading. The Featherstone-born author is a well-known figure in his native Yorkshire. He has presented a number of documentaries on Yorkshire TV and worked on Tonight, the early evening magazine programme, with Christine Talbot. He is a prolific author and his subjects range from Rugby League, a musical memoir and Entertaining Angels, a book about the work of a charity that helps homeless people. He runs creative writing workshops and has worked as a librettist for Opera North. Ian's father had been a waltzer spinner on the fairgrounds, but when he got married he went from job to job, packing Swiss rolls at Lyons cake factory, labouring at wool mills and driving cranes at engineering works. His mother came from mining family who worked in the pits at Featherstone. Ian was made redundant from his job in a factory that made machines for the coalmines in 1987 and since then turned to writing to earn his living. He said: 'When Billie died it was not just my family who suffered, but the whole community and the world who missed that sweet, loving child. Writing it down has helped me to purge a lot of conflicting emotions and reinforced the bonds between the family after all the disagreements and stresses. 'I see myself as a storyteller and don't see literature as this big, special thing. I just like to tell tales and write about the things I know, the places I have been to, the smells I have experienced and the objects that I have touched. We all have a tale to tell. I hope that I can be that spark for others to explore their own stories.' The family has set up a Trust in memory of Billie, who was a talented violinist. The proceeds of an annual concert are used to pay for musical instruments for local young people who cannot afford them. Ian is a member of Equity and has been a union member since he first started working aged 16. He said: 'Nothing proves more formidable that togetherness.' Alan Roe, unionlearn regional manager, said: 'We are delighted that Ian will be with us to celebrate World Book Day. He is a wonderful inspiration to all budding writers and lovers of good writing. Unionlearn in Yorkshire and the Humber is using the day to raise awareness of one of the most powerful skills that people can have - the power to use words. So many people are excluded from learning because of social and economic deprivation. Unions are playing a big role in giving their members a second chance to learn and have a love of learning.' Almost three quarters of a million people have had access to learning via their union. Since 1999, unionlearn has trained more than 23,000 learning reps to act as advocates for training and learning in the workplace. Also speaking at event will be Sharon Burke, unionlearn development co-ordinator, Jo Westerman, Unite branch chair and manager of the LOGIK Centre, and Clive Hudson, Unite branch secretary, Leeds University. They will be discussing the role that the unions within the university have in providing learning and training to a diverse range of people and how they can help people overcome barriers to learning. Matthew Knight, director of human resources at Leeds University, will discuss the partnership between the unions and the university. 'Leading people to reading and a love of literature is one of the most empowering acts you can do,' he said. NOTES TO EDITORS: All unionlearn press releases can be found at www.unionlearn.org.uk 1 . More information on Ian Clayton can be found at http://www.ianclayton.info/ 2. World Book Day www.worldbookday.com Media enquiries: Press release (900 words) issued 21 Apr 2010  Six Book Challenge: empowering adults to enjoy reading and improve skills for life Training time for toon heroes! Ex-postman learns to sort email |
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It is the saddest story a man can ever tell - the death of his young daughter.