Sheffield blog

A festive tradition that’s right on our doorstep

I love a local tradition, and the Sheffield carols is one of our best. It’s still going strong since it started in the late eighteenth century, when singers and musicians would gather in north west Sheffield pubs during November and December to sing Christmas carols.

The carols aren’t just the obvious ones that you hear everywhere at this time of year. Many of them mix church and secular material and are composed by local musicians, with variations of words, melody and tempo depending on which pub you are in. What’s brilliant is that some are still referred to by their local names, such as Bradfield, Stannington and Malin Bridge.

Although the basic etiquette for these ‘sings’ in pubs may seem a little daunting, tracking down when and where they are happening is easy thanks to the listings on www.localcarols.org.uk.

The first pub we tried was The Sportsman in Crosspool, on a weeknight in the run up to Christmas. Here we found the Loxley Silver North Band playing a mixture of local carols and a few of the obvious ones – someone even requested Jingle Bells.

The band sounded great, although with just a small gathering of people singing in one area of the pub, it didn’t quite feel like the full local carols experience. So it was time to try one of the village pubs further north.

The Royal Hotel in Dungworth is famous for its local carols. We headed over on boxing day and weren’t disappointed. The pub was rammed, with people gathered round an organ, singing their hearts out. This was exactly how we hoped it might be.

We were made to feel welcome, despite not really knowing the carols. We soon discover that many of the words and tunes are quite familiar. This is the end of Sweet Chiming Bells, one of the many variations of While Shepherds Watched (excuse the shaky filming on my phone):

The enthusiasm of people singing is infectious. Looking around, it seems like generations of families are in the pub, with nearly everyone drinking the tasty Bradfield Brewery beer, which is brewed just up the road.

Singing like this in a pub may seem a bit strange to some people, but when you think that this local carol, called ‘Stannington’, has been sung for hundreds of years in Sheffield public houses, it is hard not to be drawn in:

In fact, spending time with people who are part of a tradition like this is quite special. It’s heartwarming to be part of something that has been taking place for so long but hasn’t really changed.

I bought a Loxley selection songbook from The Sportsman (just £1) and now I know that many of the carols are quite easy to pick up, I would feel much more confident about joining in. What’s more, it seems silly not to make more of such a cherished tradition that takes place right on our doorstep, so I’ll definitely be back next year.

There’s more about the history of carols in this BBC documentary by Howard Goodall. The Blue Ball pub in Worrall is featured from 52 minutes, 18 seconds:

Another of Sheffield’s forgotten spaces

On Monday, the winners of Forgotten spaces will be announced. We’ll get to see the results of the competition which asked architects, designers and artists to come up with new uses for Sheffield’s forgotten spaces.

It will be interesting to see whether any of the entries looked at what could be made of Fitzalan square, which surely is one of Sheffield’s most prominent, under-used and forgotten public spaces.

Walking through a couple of months ago, I was struck by how good the square would have once looked. It gets plenty of sunshine and the trees offer a nice bit of shade, as well as some greenery to contrast with to the buildings.

I don’t know that much about architecture, but look closely and you’ll see just how impressive these buildings are. I don’t think Sheffield has anywhere near as much Victorian architecture compared to many cities of a similar size, but in Fitzalan square you’ll find the magnificent old post office dominating the south side. This grand old grade-II* structure has stood empty since 1999 and sadly been left to fall into disrepair.

On the west of the square there is another attractive building, towering five stories high with balconies on the windows and five beautiful arches on the ground level which are currently operating as retail units.

Adjacent to this on corner of the square and High street is the square’s most famous building. Now a motorcycle accessories store, the Marples building used to be a seven storey hotel but was completely reduced to rubble by bombing during in the war. The building you see there now was constructed in the 1950s.

The Marples name lives on in the square by means a small fast food hut. A statue of King Edward VII stands in the middle of the square, which was cleaned up and illuminated in as part of a facelift in 2003.

Despite the impressive buildings and the statue centerpiece, Fitzalan square doesn’t currently feel a enticing place to hang out. I took these photos over a lunchtime when there was just a single office worker enjoying his dinner there.

The roads around the edge of the square leave you feeling a bit isolated and hum of running engines in the taxi rank on the west side doesn’t make it particularly relaxing. Some of the businesses on the square – an amusement arcade and betting shops – also don’t really add much charm.

The good news is that that there are signs of recovery. The old post office building has been bought* and will be repaired and restored to a basic level before a further development is announced. Apparently it won’t be a hotel or flats.

This may be the lease of life that the square needs and a catalyst for some positive further development. I think the centre of the square could be remodelled, some of the roads pedestrianised and if they manage to attract the right businesses – some decent shops, perhaps a nice pub, cafe or restaurant trading on the Marples name and with outside tables – it could give people a reason to visit.

I’m not sure to what extent the recession has affected this bit of the Sheffield city centre master plan, but the original idea was to develop the route between Victoria quays and the High street, open up what’s left of Sheffield castle and landscape a park around the remains. If this is ever happens, it will at the very least be a huge benefit to Fitzalan square. Hopefully the planners will include it as a key part of their overall vision.

For now, the next step is the plans for the old post office building, which we should find out about in early 2012.

*ignore the main picture on this article, for some reason the Star has chosen to show a picture of a separate University of Sheffield development

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Some of my festival highlights

So it is all over for another year. In terms of numbers, Tramlines is now around the size of Glastonbury, attracting an estimated 150,000 people over the weekend. The crowds were treated to the usual mix of musical genres, with most tastes catered for in some shape or form. I’ve picked out a few aspects of the festival that I really liked this year…

Friday night

It was an inspired idea to schedule the free launch of Kid acne’s new exhibition on the Friday night of Tramlines. If you don’t think you know who Kid acne is then you will have certainly seen his work around town. The launch was the perfect warm up to the festival, with live music, drinks, a look round his exhibition and loads of familiar Sheffield faces. Then there was plenty of time after to go and see more music, including Heaven 17′s homecoming performance in Barkers pool.

The Folk forest

A haven away from the city centre and well worth a visit even if you weren’t a folk fan. What’s not to like about lying back under the trees with the sun shining, listening to live music while enjoying a local beer? The heaving centre of town over Tramlines weekend isn’t everyone’s cup of tea and the enchanting Folk forest in Endcliffe park did a good job of widening the appeal of the festival to an older – and younger – audience.

The Busker bus

A handy way to get around and also a venue in itself. Watching someone perform against the backdrop of a vibrant Sheffield through the window was a brilliant combination. Half the fun was just turning up and seeing who hopped on to perform: it could have been anything from big local names to great new music or even an X Factor boy band fresh from the main stage.

More people and more venues

This year there were even more venues involved across a wider area of the city, including some of the more suburban pubs and cafes. And seeking sanctuary in the cathedral for some lovely acoustic music was a magical experience (plus having a drink in the pews was also quite good fun). More venues over a wider area meant more people, although this didn’t stop Tramlines still being a good place to bump into random friends.

Great weather

There’s no denying that a weekend of sunshine makes all the difference and this year the weather was possibly the best yet. After a very light shower on the Friday night, the sun shone on both the main days which would have no doubt encouraged even more people out.

The Tramlines brand

This year the visual identity of Tramlines was given an overhaul and it was a big improvement. Sheffield agency Peter and Paul designed a new font specifically for the festival, which was used on all the promotional material and also picked up by other outlets. The poster campaign featuring familiar and unfamiliar Sheffield faces shot by photographer Sean Bloodworth also looked great around town. It all made for quite a distinctive campaign that communicated one of the main selling points of Tramlines; that it was free for everyone.

A boost for the city centre

The experience of a trip to Sheffield city centre is a bit patchy to say the least. Many of the shop units stand empty due to the recession or in anticipation of Sevenstone construction starting, which has left it all a bit in limbo. Tramlines resulted in the streets being packed with people and local businesses doing well out of what would otherwise have been a quiet summer weekend. Anecdotal evidence suggests that trade was busy – there were reports of one bar running out or beer and another making more over Tramlines weekend than they make in a month.

Good beer

With an official festival brew in the shape of Tramlines ale, other local breweries like Thornbridge taking part and many of Sheffield’s real ale pubs on the circuit, there was no reason not to steer clear of the keg lager, even in the main stage areas.

Same again next year?

Overall it seems like Tramlines 2011 was another success. Some people were wary of the impact of a big sponsor coming on board, although this didn’t seem to make a discernible negative difference. Others are still expecting to see a lot more bigger names playing, even though this would be hard to manage at a ticketless, free festival.

For me Tramlines isn’t just about seeing big bands, or even being regimental about the music you do try and see. The friends I know who enjoyed it the most are the ones who got out and about and threw themselves into what and wherever their weekend took them, whether it was a rammed and sweaty pub or the tranquility of the Folk forest.

How do you think it compared to previous years? And what would you suggest for 2012 – is there anything they should keep, ditch or should be doing?

The Radical departures What I learned from Tramlines 2011 blog post is a good read and has some useful tips for if and when the festival returns in 2012.

Making the most of a weekend of free live music

So Sheffield’s busiest weekend of the year is here in the form of Tramlines. If you haven’t already then have a look at the listings to find out who is performing and when.

There are 70 venues so there is plenty to see, however it is likely that some will be running at capacity during busy periods and for the most popular bands.

My advice based on previous years would be to get there in plenty of time and be prepared to queue to get in. In the past, when one band finished playing, lots of people would leave the venue, giving other people the opportunity to move inside and get a good spot for the next one.

Remember that the festival isn’t just based around Devonshire green. The Tramlines footprint for 2011 is even bigger than last year, and the list of participating venues stretches as far as Heeley, Greystones, Sharrow vale and Kelham island. This should help spread the crowds out and ensure that you get see your share of live music.

If you use Twitter then keep an eye on the #TramlinesTraffic hash tag. The organisers will be using it to keep people updated about the queues and business of venues and they are hoping that people will join in to keep everyone informed.

Finally, if you haven’t been on the busker bus then you have missed out. As well as being a practical (and free) means of getting around, it is a venue in itself, with a programme of acoustic and unplugged performances running Saturday and Sunday.

Last year I overheard one old couple on there sat behind me discussing whether they should go round and do another circuit of the city. They were loving it.

You won’t have heard of every artist playing, but nearly every major genre of music must be catered for at some point over the weekend. And it isn’t just about seeing big bands: for me it is as much about mooching around town, stumbling upon some new music and supporting what is becoming one of the most high-profile events in Sheffield’s calendar.

The weather forecast looks OK, so have fun and soak up the atmosphere on the one weekend of the year when Sheffield feels like a completely different place compared to at any other time of year.

An expanded travel guide for curious folk

Last May the first edition of Our favourite places – Sheffield was released and it quickly became the guide of choice to Sheffield for not only visitors to the city but also the people who live here. It contained a hand-picked selection of fifty of our best-loved places, all lovingly packaged into a beautiful pocket guide with pull-out map.

Buoyed by its success, creators Eleven have set about expanding the guide to now include 75 entries in the new edition. Inside you’ll find recommendations for restaurants, cafes, pubs, shops, arts, parks, gardens and day trips, as well as a mini real ale trail and Sharrow vale road photo spread.

You can probably guess some of the more obvious favourites that appear in there, but it is likely that there will also be some locations you haven’t yet visited, as well as one or two off the beaten track. I gave a copy of the first edition to some relatives who had just moved back to Sheffield and they have loved exploring what the city has to offer.

At just £4 the original edition of Our favourite places was great value, and at the same price this expanded version is even more of a bargain. Get yourself a copy and discover the cherished bits of Sheffield that you’ve been missing out on.

Our favourite places – Sheffield

A special gig from Sheffield’s versatile singer-songwriter

It is 3 o’clock on Friday and instead of contemplating a post-work beer in a Broomhill pub, I’ve taken the afternoon off and am settling down to tea and cake in a residential home round the corner.

I’ve got good reason to be here at Lifestyle house. As one of the many events at Broomhill festival, Sheffield’s very own John Shuttleworth is putting on a couple of low-key afternoon performances. The gigs are for the residents of the home but there are also a handful of free tickets available to the public.

John Shuttleworth is a likeable comedy character created by comedian Graham Fellows. He sings gentle observational songs about life, with accompaniment from his retro portable keyboard. You may have heard him on his own Radio 4 series, on TV and also in a couple of full-length feature films. If not, read his entry on Wikipedia and listen to some of his songs below, you’ll soon get the idea.

His lyrics have plenty of local references (“She lives in Hope, but she used to live in Barnsley”) which makes them even funnier if you’re from or know south Yorkshire.

The annual Broomhill festival is in its 37th year and is firmly established. As a result it manages to occasionally pull in high-profile acts like this which you might not expect to find at a normal community festival: at his last Sheffield show, John filled the city hall. In addition, Graham Fellows has links with Lifestyle House, as his parents are both residents here and he also went to King Edward VIII school, which is just next door.

The average age of the people in the room must be about 80, but he goes down well. Early on in the set we get to hear the Shuttleworth favourite Two margarines and it is soon clear that the songs and talk in between work brilliantly in this setting. You’re never quite sure whether the lovely old people understand that he is a comedy creation or instead just see him as another eccentric afternoon entertainer.

The residents provide plenty of good banter, although when one old lady says “I’m not going to answer any more of your questions”, you realise they don’t all suffer fools gladly.

Halfway through we break for tea and cakes, served to us using classic Beryl ware hospital/residential home crockery. After some mingling John then takes to his keyboard once again to play Shopkeepers in the north, near-Eurovision hit Pigeons in flight and a sherry-fuelled I can’t go back to savoury now. One old guy has nodded off but everyone else has been thoroughly entertained.

A small crew recorded the performance for another John Shuttleworth film, which will be worth looking out for. Some photos are below.

Upcoming Sheffield photo and craft exhibitions

Two exhibitions launch next month, one marking the end of a great photography project and the other heralding the start of a new arts and craft showcase.

The Sheffield 365 project saw photographer Luke Avery taking portraits of Sheffield people at different locations around the city on each day in 2010. You can read more about the project in this interview with Luke that I did after the project had come to an end.

You may have seen some of the photos on display in one of the empty shops on the Moor earlier on this year. The good news is that all 365 photos are to be displayed at the Workstation on Paternoster row in an exhibition next month.

The free Sheffield 365 project exhibition launches on Wednesday 4 May (6-9pm) and runs until 31 May.

And the night after, on Thursday 5 May, Sheffield craft city launches its first exhibition at PJ Taste on Glossop road. It has been set up as a rolling showcase for work from the local arts and craft scene.

The opening exhibition includes contributions from:

• James Green, linocut and etching print specialist
• Lianne Mellor, tea ware with a contemporary feel
• Jessica Flinn, maker of handmade modern jewellery using traditional metalwork techniques
• PJ taste, providing support, sustenance and creativity with locally sourced food

The artists’ work will be on show at PJ taste from the 6 May, with a launch party from 6pm on the 5 May. The event is free but ticketed.

Tickets for Sheffield craft city launch

Have you seen the lights?

Sunday night saw the annual lantern festival take over the streets of Sharrow. I don’t live in the neighbourhood but the reputation of the festival has been growing for a few years now so I decided it was time to check it out.

In the weeks leading up to it, workshops took place to help people craft a lantern to carry in the procession. On the day of the festival, crowds would then gather at dusk in Mount pleasant park before setting off and parading through Sharrow to Cemetery park.

This year’s procession was again led by the Sheffield samba band, who were brilliant. Everyone else followed: many people proudly carried ‘elements’-themed lanterns in all shapes and sizes, while some were dressed up and others had their faces adorned with face paints. It didn’t matter if you hadn’t prepared anything though, as everyone was welcome to tag along regardless.

As the carnival wove its way through the streets, residents gathered in doorways and faces pressed up against windows to catch a glimpse of the festivities and see what the noise was all about.

On joining London road, we turned left towards town and headed for Cemetery park for live music, fire spinners and the spectacular lantern release. And for those wanting to continue the festivities, bands and DJs carried on at the Cremorne pub until late.

It looks like 2011 will be the final year that organisers Creative action network will be managing the event. There is no suggestion that it won’t be going ahead next April though and they are inviting people to get involved with the organisation. Do get in touch with them if you fancy it.

I’d definitely recommend getting involved in next year’s event, whether you are eight or 80. I didn’t really know what to expect, and when the rain came down on Sunday afternoon – following a hefty mother’s day meal – it was quite tempting not to bother venturing out. But I’m really glad I did, as I got to not just see but actually participate in another heart-warming example of grassroots Sheffield culture and community spirit.

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Contributions welcome for this new photo blog

Having taken inspiration from London shop fronts photo blog – and a polite suggestion that someone should nick the idea and do a version for Sheffield – I’m pleased to confirm that Shop fronts of Sheffield is now up and running.

Anyone can contribute to the photo blog, you just have to your email your picture in, making sure it meets the criteria.

The suggestion for a Sheffield version was put out on Twitter and it didn’t take long for some enthusiastic and creative people to get the project off the ground.

Surely with the power of the internet we can include a good selection of photos of Sheffield shop fronts from across the whole city?

And if anyone has got any other ideas like this that need a push to get going then get in touch!

Shop fronts of Sheffield photo blog

@shopfrontsheff on Twitter

Year-long photography project draws to a close

Sheffield photographer Luke Avery’s marathon 365 photography project is complete, after a year of taking a photo for it almost every day.

I’ve personally really enjoyed looking at the latest picture each day. Flicking through the set of photos is fascinating, whether you are looking out for the locations, the changing seasons, the fashions, the composition or of course the mix of personalities that are featured and their background stories.

I asked him a few questions about the Sheffield 365 project, including how it has changed his perception of the city and what plans he has for it going into 2011.

How do you feel like the project is almost over – a sense of achievement, pride, sadness or relief?

I think it’s really a mix of all four. The project has become such a part of my life that on a day to day basis it doesn’t feel like an achievement – it’s just what I do. That said, when I occasionally stop to look back on the project as a whole it definitely feels like an achievement.

In the best way possible I’m really looking forward to not needing to go out and persuade a stranger to let me take their photo, although I expect that as soon as a couple of weeks of January have passed I’ll begin to miss all those random interactions and encounters that have occurred over this year.

For the most part I am very proud of the work that the project has produced. Being something of a technical perfectionist, some of the photos aren’t quite as in focus/lit/framed as I’d ideally like, but I think that probably can be chalked up to being my own worst critic. Certainly for every photo that is slightly off the ideal, there is (at least) one that I’m really pleased with, so it works out nicely overall.

How did you fit the project into your working and personal routine? Did you not leave the city for more than a day or so during the whole of 2010?

With a lot of practice is I think the short answer to the first part of the question. Initially it was the new thing and I was excited to get out and shoot the photo each day. By the time the new-project excitement had worn off, it was beginning to become part of my daily routine and so I just had to keep working at it until it became totally natural to head out and walk the streets (so to speak).

In answer to the second part of the question, I would say that about 90-95% of the photos were shot on the day they appear and the rest were shot within a day or two. So yes, I did leave Sheffield on the odd occasion, but not very often. Apologies if that’s shattered any illusions.

It must have taken you to parts of Sheffield you’ve never been to before. Has your view of the city changed in 12 months because of this?

Absolutely. When I first started the project I knew relatively few areas of the city – Crookes, Walkley, Ecclesall road, the city centre – the usual Sheffield university student areas, whereas now I feel pretty confident getting myself anywhere in the city. I suppose if I fail at being a photographer I can always take up taxi driving!

When I set out in January I had no idea that Sheffield was such a varied city. My experience until that point had been simply turn of the century terraced houses with the occasional new development chucked in for good measure. Think about the variation that you get from Ranmoor to Hillsborough to Southey to Gleadless Valley to Frecheville. I distinctly remember early in January driving (without really knowing where I was going) from Intake into Gleadless Valley and being amazed at the fact that there were these massive tower blocks that I hadn’t known existed.

I’ve spent a fair while stood on hillsides and attempting to piece how the city fits together. Actually thinking of standing in places with a view, I’ve discovered lots of great new parks and open spaces that I was blissfully ignorant of 365 days ago.

What did you say to strangers when you approached them and asked if you could take a photo? Did many people turn you down?

I’ve tried to keep everything as quick as possible for the subjects (they probably have better things to do with their time than talk to wandering photographers). I tell people I’m doing a photo art/documentary project which involves shooting daily portraits of Sheffield people and would they be willing to have their photo taken and be part of the project. Or words to that effect. If they agree in principle I give them a bit more info on where the photos are being shown and that sort of thing. For some subject, that’s enough info and they head on their way pretty quickly after having their photo taken. Others are more chatty/curious and I’ve ended up having decent conversations with a couple of my subjects from time to time.

In answer to the second half of the question, yes, I do get turned down a lot. I probably have to ask somewhere between three and 12 people on average in order to find someone willing to have their photo taken. I’ve managed to get that number down a bit as the year has progressed and I’ve got better at predicting who is likely to turn me down. For example, people looking busy/walking in a hurry for example are often not worth asking.

I’ve had quite a wide range of reasons for not taking part, but the usual culprits are not enough time/busy and don’t like having their photo taken generally. I suspect most people that turn me down are also a bit suspicious about either the project or my motives. Generally though, I’m ok with being turned down – I’d far rather have willing subjects than ones who’s arms I have to twist.

I’ve also confirmed what I already knew – that Sheffield people are very friendly. The worst reaction I’ve had from the hundreds or thousands of people that I’ve asked throughout the project is a straight ‘no’ and carry on their way, and even that’s only happened three or four times. Everyone else has been somewhere between civil and outright friendly.

Which are your favourite pictures?

That’s quite a tough question, asking me to whittle down 365 photos into just a handful… I like the photos for a variety of reasons, mainly for either technical excellence (where the lighting/pose/background/etc are great) or for having a great backstory to go with them. It’s taken several rounds of tough, ruthless shortlisting (from about 30 photos, to 12, to the final list) in order to get this list, but here goes:

January 6th – Dodger, Upperthorpe
March 24th – Mick, Burngreave
April 9 – Westham, Netherthorpe
May 6 – Erica, Dore
June 18 – Mahd, Burngreave
July 7th – Margaret, Middlewood
October 6 – Terry, Loxley
December 15 – John & John, Heeley

On the topic of choosing favourites, I’m giving away four prints of photos from the project in a variety of ways over the next few weeks or months, and to be in with a chance of winning the first one people just have to leave a comment on the website (or Facebook page) letting me know which their favourite photo is. Simple as that.

The project got plenty of exposure via social media. How did you use this and is it an important way of promoting your work?

This is one of the things that has been new to me on this project and definitely a learning curve. The photos from the project have been visible not only on the main website that I built for it (www.sheffield365project.co.uk) but also on Flickr and on Facebook (facebook.com/sheffield365project).

During the course of the year I was persuaded to give Twitter a go (@lukeaveryphoto), so I’ve been linking back to the main site from there when the photo comes out every day. I decided that the Twitter account would be one for Luke Avery Photography as a whole rather than just Sheffield 365 Project, so it’s not just info about this project that gets posted on there.

For me social media has been (and still is) very much of a love-hate relationship. I am far from Facebook’s biggest fan and whilst I completely acknowledge the benefits it brings in terms of instantly connecting to people all over the place, it’s not something I really enjoy or use. In many respects I’m pretty old fashioned when it comes to connecting with others. A lot of my contact comes through emails, phone calls, and actual face-to-face meetings (my personal favourite).

That all said, I have enjoyed Twitter and so I’ll keep using that and I have started a blog for Luke Avery Photography (luke-avery.com/blog), so I will be keeping some of the social media-ness that I’ve developed over the course of this project, but you probably won’t see an official Luke Avery Photography Facebook page cropping up any time soon. That is unless someone can sell it to me in a very convincing manner…

Did the project raise the profile of Luke Avery Photography and has it led to more business?

I think it has definitely raised my profile as a photographer, however whether it has raised it with those who would be potential clients has yet to be seen. I’ve not had huge amounts of work come through the door as a direct result of the project, but then I work mainly as a commercial and editorial photographer (businesses and magazines), and they aren’t necessarily the people I’m photographing for this project. That said, I’m not averse to shooting photos for personal clients, it’s just not where I put my effort into marketing.

Overall, the project was never meant to be a promotional tool for Luke Avery Photography, even if that has turned into one of the side effects. I always intended it to be an art project, where the only intended endgame was to produce a set of interesting portraits that depict Sheffield folk throughout 2010 and I think I’ve managed that.

It would be great to see the full set of photos exhibited in Sheffield in 2011. Is this something you’re hoping to do? Might there even be a book?

Absolutely. I had originally planned to be very organised and sort it all out in advance of 31 December, so I could announce it all come 1 January and there’d be a nice continuity. Unfortunately that hasn’t happened, mainly thanks to a plethora of work that’s occurred over the last six or so weeks and eaten up most of my time.

So, as a result of that I’m now going to start trying to pull together a show once January rolls around. I’ve come to the realisation that putting on a show of all 365 portraits properly is going to be an expensive business and so I’m looking into the funding and sponsorship options. If anyone reading this fancies getting involved then send me an email.

I can reveal that there will definitely be a book of the project. I’m not 100% sure what format it will be, but thanks to the various websites offering self publishing options, I will make sure that something comes out. That said, it would be fantastic if an actual publisher got behind the project and put a book out for it, but until then it’s down the self publishing route I go.