Rants, Rhymes and Reflections

Rants Rhymes and Reflections is a fantastic book published by Cartwheel for MoorEnd Development Trust

The book, by artist Geoff Read and poet John Lindley with the people of Milnrow and Newhey, consists of portraits and words from a Lancashire village. It has been published to celebrate the 300th birthday of Tim Bobbin, the vicious satirical caricaturist and Lancashire dialect poet. The book contains over 30 sketches of people in Milnrow by Geoff Read, accompanied by a lively mixture of poetry, stories, interviews and conversations at the bar edited by John Lindley.  These contributions are grouped roughly thematically dealing with village identity, religion, work, adolescence, politicians and other issues of the day and are interspersed with some of Tim Bobbin’s outrageous illustrations and barbed comments on similar topics, showing that although 300 years have passed since Tim Bobbin was born, in many ways nothing has changed.

The book provides a really broad snapshot of local life and characters.  Interviews and anecdotes from local Councillors are presented equally with many other contributions, including some tough and humorous writing by school students, poems from a local poetry group and provocative banter from the regulars at the Slip Inn.

MoorEnd Development Trust is a Community Regeneration Company and Registered Charity. Established in 2003 it is a community-owned and run business seeking to undertake and promote activities that are beneficial to the community of the Pennines Township are of Rochdale Borough.  The project, which included an exhibition and a set of coasters, was funded by the Heritage Lottery Fund (HLF), which enables communities to celebrate, look after and learn more about our diverse heritage.

The book is available at Milnrow Library, Kelsalls and other outlets in Milnrow and Littleborough and from any bookshop, priced £4.95, or you can order a copy from Cartwheel.