Scratching Shed Publishing

Soon to be published – order your copy now!

by Rebecca Alton

Words from Hyem – The Life and Rhymes of Richard Oliver Heslop

by Andy Bogle and Tony Hannan

Historian, author, songwriter, poet, businessman, humourist, lexicologist, Liberal man-about-town and – from 1914 to 1916 – president of the Literary and Philosophical Society of Newcastle upon Tyne, along with much else besides, Oliver Heslop is the Toon’s forgotten champion. The man responsible for the region’s first nationally recognised dialect dictionary Northumberland Words – prior to then published weekly in the Evening Chronicle – was a celebrity of his day, a champion of the region, years ahead of his time. Yet sadly, since his demise, his astonishing contribution has been all but overlooked. This book puts that right.

And in fact, Words from Hyem has its own sad tale to tell. Originally, it had one single author, South Shields-born Andy Bogle, latterly resident in the USA, but drawn back frequently to County Durham and Northumberland and his second residence in Hexham. Now it has a couple. Yorkshireman and ‘adopted Geordie’ Tony Hannan has in-laws galore in South Shields, so needed little persuasion to step into the breach when Andy passed away in August 2023. In short, this is a biography like no other.

By Peg Alexander

The rucksacks are packed again. Radio and TV personality Peg Alexander embarks on a journey to Asia and the Middle East with husband Jim, another seminal moment in their lately-troubled relationship.

Travel – and the fortunes of Leeds United – bind the couple together as they come to terms with Jim’s mental health issues, and an adoption process that seems to thwart them at every turn. This ‘rewind trip’ is a partial repeat of their ‘Global Adventure’ ten years earlier, when travel had again been their saviour, part of a healing process that allowed them to learn about themselves, the lives of others, and cultures different to their own.

Amid the anxiety, Peg’s Yorkshire wit and innate positivity shine through. We learn about her upbringing, the duo’s time together and countries they have visited, past and present, plus how those places have since changed too. It’s a different kind of insight into human fragility and fallibility, with an understanding of alternative horizons at its heart – and also an enjoyable travel guide to those places en route.

Sometimes you have to travel halfway around the world before you can see what’s right in front you.