‘At its best Princes Park Health Centre was Nye Bevan’s dream fulfilled: health care, free for all at their point of need, from the cradle to the grave.’ – Chas Clegg, district nurse
Princes Park Health Centre, in Liverpool 8, was founded by Dr Cyril Taylor, a visionary GP and Labour councillor. Cyril’s approach to the role of GP was strongly influenced by his Communist beliefs, and his strong sense of social justice. Princes Park Health Centre pioneered numerous innovations in holistic primary care, women’s health and health promotion.
Writing on the Wall are very proud to announce the launch and publication of A radical practice in Liverpool: the rise, fall and rise of Princes Park Health Centre, written by Katy Gardner and Susanna Graham-Jones, both GPs who worked at the practice, where a dedicated multidisciplinary primary health care team provided exceptional care to patients.
The team worked with local organisations more broadly to make Liverpool 8 a healthier place and to tackle poverty and racism. ‘Health Through Arts’ events involved patients and local artists; research projects on homelessness, ethnicity and health, and heart disease started here, in the inner city. The practice struggled bravely against Thatcherism, maintaining its focus on social justice throughout the 1980s and 1990s despite the chronic lack of funding for the NHS. However, the heavy workload took its toll on those who worked there. The principled decision by the GPs to become a salaried practice in 1998 was followed by gruelling times, with loss of autonomy and chaotic NHS fragmentation as privatisation encroached. The later sections of the book chart the struggle and rebirth of Princes Park Health Centre, acknowledging the vital role played by patients and the local community.
A RADICAL PRACTICE draws on the vivid memories of patients and community activists as well as health workers. It is set in the political context of the time and reflects the turbulent history of the National Health Service over the last 40 years.
The book launch will be at 7.30pm on Wednesday 26th May 2021, with a panel discussion about Princes Park Health Centre led by people associated with this flagship practice.
The Princes Park Health Centre book launch panel:
Chair – Roger Phillips
Roger Phillips’ voice is one of the best known in Liverpool. He was a popular presenter on Radio Merseyside from 1978 until his retirement in 2020. He has won countless awards, and in 2000 was named ‘Sony Speech and Talk Broadcaster of the Year’, beating Radio 4’s John Humphrys, Peter White, the Woman’s Hour team and Andrew Neil of Radio 5 Live. Roger is now Visiting Professor in Broadcast Journalism at Liverpool Hope University.
Katy Gardner (co-author)
As an undergraduate at Cambridge in 1970, Katy changed from Natural Sciences to Medicine after meeting the Reds in Medicine group of left-wing medical students and realising that inner-city general practice was what she wanted to do. After meeting Cyril Taylor as a student in 1973, she knew she wanted to work with him in Liverpool 8. Katy joined Princes Park Health Centre as a trainee in 1978, soon after it opened. She became a partner in 1979, and stayed for 28 years. After leaving she went on to work at Marybone Health Centre in the Vauxhall area of Liverpool. Katy retired in 2018, having been active in community projects and public health, especially in Liverpool 8, all her working life. She became a school governor at Windsor Community Primary School and joined the Friends of Princes Park. She is now chair of FOPP, working to make the park a safer, greener, and more inclusive place.
Teresa Williamson-Akpan
Teresa is an activist and campaigner who has been a patient at Princes Park Health Centre for over 40 years. She holds it to be a truth that an NHS service is the sign of a civilised society. She was involved in a successful campaign started by Sam Semoff, another patient and activist, to rescue the run-down and demoralised health centre after its takeover in 2012 by a GP company, in the context of the notorious privatisation of NHS services. They brought the community together by holding a meeting for local residents in 3 languages, and achieved their aim. Teresa believes that Princes Park Health Centre was ground-breaking and ahead of its time, and is worthy of recognition for all it has achieved.
Michelle Cox
Michelle is a registered nurse who is passionate about delivery of high quality health care. Michelle has gained wide experience in the commissioning of health service and uses her experience to influence health and social care policies in relation to inequalities in health at many levels. As North of England lead nurse to the Chief Nursing Officer’s Black and Minority Ethnic Strategic Advisory Group, Michelle focuses on equality, diversity and inclusion, aiming to ensure that the NHS workforce and boards truly represent our communities. Among other awards, Michelle was given the title of Queen’s Nurse in 2018. She sees the time she spent in Barbados as significant in enabling her to influence health promotion and patient engagement with black and ethnic minority communities.
Dr Michael Ejuoneatse
Michael qualified as a doctor at Liverpool University in 1986 and became a GP in 1994. He spent time at Princes Park as a trainee and returned to the practice as a partner. He left in 2007 to join a practice in St Helens. Michael has been involved in clinical commissioning for 10 years, and is now Medical Director and Deputy Chair of St Helens NHS Clinical Commissioning Group. He notes that the NHS Long Term Plan emphasizes a holistic, collaborative, population management approach, and reflects that this was exactly the model that the team at Princes Park Health Centre strived to deliver over 30 years ago.
A RADICAL PRACTICE IN LIVERPOOL: THE RISE, FALL AND RISE OF PRINCES PARK HEALTH CENTRE
is now available to pre-order for just £9.99 by clicking here
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Proudly supported by The Institute of Creative Enterprise at Edge Hill University’s MA in International Creative Enterprise.
*Some exclusions apply – see Festival Programme for more information.
Date: Wednesday 26th May
Time: 7:30pm
Price: Free
One Hour Theatre Company presents: Bartleby: A Tale of Wall Street is the first completed recording in an ongoing original audio drama project premiering at WoWFest; a unique artistic collaboration between playwright, Tom Hall, former Head of Drama at LJMU, actor David Llewellyn, composer and sound designer Andy Frizell and director and dramaturg Victor Merriman.
Date: May 1, 2021
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The Sound Recordist is the latest poetry collection from Seán Street, a sequence of work based on a life’s work in radio and a fascinating insight into British broadcasting. Join Seán and poet and editor Hannah Stone to discuss sound, silence and the power of words in contemporary society.
Date: May 1, 2021
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La Violette Società, once a rough diamond now a gem of the Liverpool arts scene, lay on a special WoWFEST 21st anniversary night of their eclectic mix of poetry, storytelling and spoken word featuring Roy, Mark Jackson, Holly Watson and Lou Fitz. Hosted by Ciarán Hodgers.
Date: May 1, 2021
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Once British, Always British, two 30-minute audio dramas exploring migration to British port cities by Yemeni and Indian sailors in the 1920’s, inspired by real material from The National Archives and written by acclaimed playwrights Hassan Abdulrazzak and Satinder Chohan. A Tamasha Theatre production in association with The National Archives.
Date: May 4, 2021
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Award-winning international best-selling author of My Name Is Leon, discusses and reads from her latest short story collection Supporting Cast.
Date: May 4, 2021
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Join former Children’s Laureate Michael Rosen for this exclusive performance of his much-loved poetry for children and young people from across his career and award-winning books including Michael Rosen’s Big Book of Bad Things, The Hypnotiser, Quick Let’s Get Out Of Here and others.
Date: May 5, 2021
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Published to coincide with its 200th anniversary, Capitalism's Conscience brings together historians, journalists and activists in an appraisal of the Guardian's contribution to British politics, society and culture - and its distinctive brand of centrism. Join this discussion with Victoria Brittain, Ghada Karmi and Matt Kennard, chaired by Des Freedman.
Date: May 5, 2021
Start: 6:00pm
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Maxine Hong Kingston, internationally celebrated author of seminal works The Woman Warrior and China Men, discusses literature, political activism and her Chinese-American identity and her life as a writer, peace activist, teacher and mother, with Dr Lucienne Loh, Senior Lecturer in English literature at the University of Liverpool.
Date: May 5, 2021
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These stories, written by UK prisoners, cover everything from face masks to first loves, sinister assassins to returning war heroes. Starting with an opening line from crime-writer Ryan Gattis, prisoners across the UK were invited to write a 500-word short story for a competition ran by publisher Picador and national charity The Reading Agency.
Date: May 6, 2021
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Many Different Kinds of Love is former Children’s Laureate Michael Rosen’s account of his brush with death after catching the Corona Virus in March 2020. Combining stunning new prose poems, this is a moving, humorous and passionate testament to the dedication of NHS staff and the power of community.
Date: May 6, 2021
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Opening WoWFest’s 21st birthday festival programme, internationally renowned film director Ken Loach delivers an exclusive Rebel Rant titled “Change Has Got To Come”. From his creative work with people at the sharp end of austerity, explitative employment practices, how COVID-19 is impacting on those who are most economically vulnerable, and our right to protest against an unfair system coming under attack, Ken Loach will be speaking about what we can do as individuals and communities to bring about the change that has got to come.
Date: May 7, 2021
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Shuggie Bain is the stunning Booker Prize winning debut from Douglas Stuart. Young Shuggie is desperately trying to save his mother from alcoholism. This blistering and heartbreaking story explores the unsinkable love that only children can have for their damaged parents. Join Douglas in conversation with author of Lowborn, Kerry Hudson.
Date: May 8, 2021
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Indie publishers, a lifeline for many during Lockdown, have also suffered declines in overall sales. Join industry experts from independent Northern-based publishers: Lendall Press, Bluemoose Books, And Other Stories and Peepal Tree Press to discuss how they will fare as we begin to return to life post-pandemic.
Date: May 10, 2021
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How do you find hope and joy and prepare your children for a world that is racist, sexist and facing climate crisis? Brown Baby is a love letter to the author’s late mother and his two youngest daughters. From award-winning editor of The Good Immigrant Nikesh Shukla, chaired by Darren Chetty.
Date: May 11, 2021
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Lady Phyll, founder of UK Black Pride and Executive Director of Kaleidoscope Truth, joins WoWFest and Chloe Cousins, Rainbow Noir Strategic Lead, to discuss the impacts of the pandemic on Black queer communities and the vitally important activism and community work needed to combat entrenched racism, homophobia, transphobia and misogyny.
Date: May 11, 2021
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Constructing family history is not about making a family tree, searching for a long lost relative or establishing a DNA record, it’s a process of feeling, remembering, and constructing your family experience. Join local author Tony Wailey for this workshop on placing family into the context of the times people lived through.
Date: May 12, 2021
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Veteran broadcaster, Channel 4 News’ Jon Snow, joins WoWFest at a vital time for news journalism, under attack from left and right, written off as FAKE NEWS, Jon will discuss the role of the media in our lives, and the future of broadcast journalism for a better, more-informed society.
Date: May 12, 2021
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Taking stock of thirty-seven years of friendship, Everything But The Girl’s Tracey Thorn’s new book My Rock ‘n’ Roll Friend, teases out the details of connection and affection with Lindy Morrison, drummer for The Go-Betweens. A book that asks what people see, who does the looking and ultimately who writes women out of – and back into – history.
Date: May 12, 2021
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The work of poet and lecturer Matt Simpson is celebrated through readings by Dr Eleanor Rees, Dave Ward and poet Helen Mort from Matt and Helen’s poetry, and discussions on the role of locality within poetry. A partnership event between Liverpool Hope University and The Windows Project.
Date: May 13, 2021
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Booker Prize winner Ben Okri’s A Fire in My Head, is powerful new poetry collection, offering incisive insights into issues affecting society today - the refugee crisis, racism, Obama, the Grenfell Tower fire, and the Coronavirus pandemic. Join us for readings and discussion, chaired by acclaimed poet Anthony Anaxagorou.
Date: May 14, 2021
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Actress, by Booker-winning author Anne Enright, is the story of Irish theatre legend Katherine O’Dell, as written by her daughter Norah. This intensely moving, disturbing novel about a daughter’s search for truth brilliantly captures the glamour of post-war American and the shabbiness of 1970’s Dublin. Anne will read from Actress and be in discussion with Sarah Maclennan, Head of Creative Writing at Liverpool John Moore’s University.
Date: May 13, 2021
Start: 7:30pm
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In this powerful, uplifting plea for conscious optimism, Elif Shafak asks how we can stay sane in an age of division, where we feel overwhelmed by issues around us - injustice, suffering and an endless feeling of crisis. Join Booker Prize-nominated writer Elif Shafak for readings and discussion.
Date: May 15, 2021
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Is working class writing becoming a genre? How do working class writers break into a seemingly exclusive industry? Should working class writers only write about issues affecting the working class? We take a deep dive into these questions and hear from some exciting new works by working class writers working across a range of styles and forms and get a flavour of some of the most exciting working class writers bringing new work out this year. Featuring Rónán Hession, Rachel Genn, Matt Cook
Date: May 17, 2021
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Date: May 18, 2021
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In this exclusive keynote speech, with much to be hopeful for in the UK but much left to do to combat discrimination and violence continuing against LGBTQIA+ people globally, human rights activist Peter Tatchell offers his thoughts on the future of LGBTQIA+ human rights, hosted by the BBC’s LGBTQIA+ correspondent Ben Hunte.
Date: May 18, 2021
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This warm, friendly and inclusive workshop, facilitated by Clare Shaw is for anyone who has experienced sexual violence or abuse – you don’t have to be an experienced writer. A partnership with Clearlines Festival and the Royal Society of Literature – there will be chat, writing exercises and good online company.
Date: May 19, 2021
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Women experience hostility every day, far from minor annoyance or micro-aggressions, revealing a deeply ingrained sexism within society. Laura Bates, founder of Everyday Sexism, Sabeena Akhtar, Editor of Cut From The Same Cloth and Dr. Jessica Taylor, author of Why Women Are Blamed For Everything, discuss everyday sexism and why it is such a corrosive force in society
Date: May 19, 2021
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Join playwright and dramaturg Kevin Dyer for a free workshop exploring the themes of his new play The Table Tennis Years – a play about a father and son who don’t talk anymore, whose only means of communication is the game of ping pong they play after school every day.
Date: May 20, 2021
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In this exclusive keynote speech the chair of the People’s Covid Inquiry, Michael Mansfield QC, will explore the reasons why the UK has one of the world’s highest death rates relating, and how the underlying systemic problems within society and the government’s handling of the pandemic society has contributed the situation.
Date: May 20, 2021
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Have our views on confinement changed during the Lockdowns, and can creativity and writing help us understand the difficulties of those in prison, and support their rehabilitation and reintegration into society? Ryan Gattis, Bejan Matur, Ashleigh Nugent and Erwin James discuss the power of creative writing when locked-in or locked-down.
Date: May 20, 2021
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Join WoWFest’s digital open mic Word Play and share your work as part of Light Night. Hosted by multi award-winning poet Ciarán Hodgers, and featuring special guest performances from the community, connect with artists and audiences across Liverpool for WoWFest’s exciting 21st birthday festival programme. For more information see www.wowfest.uk
Date: May 21, 2021
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Queer Bodies are fodder for debates about bathrooms, borders, eating disorders and assault, and points of convergence for the future, the past and the present. Liverpool’s Queer Bodies Collective debut explosive and radical new work from Northern writers featuring an exclusive performance from multi award-winning poet Joelle Taylor’s hotly anticipated new collection C+NTO.
Date: May 22, 2021
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Courttia Newland and Alex Wheatle, writers on Small Axe, Internationally renowned director Steve McQueen’s ground-breaking series, which pulled back the curtain on some untold stories of Black British History, revealing contemporary black stories traditionally absent from mainstream media, discuss the importance of putting Black British stories in the mainstream.
Date: May 22, 2021
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The novelists of the future will be aiming to wow the judges at WoWFest21’s Pulp Idol Grand Final in the hope of being crowned Pulp Idol Winner 2021 and having their novel read by a professional literary agent. Guest judges include Kevin Duffy (Bluemoose Books), Genevieve Pegg (Harper North), Laura Williams (Greene & Heaton) and author Yvonne Battle-Felton.
Date: May 24, 2021
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Award-winning Iraqi writer Hassan Blasim and Sunday Times bestselling author Christy Lefteri, in conversation with Ted Hodgkinson, discuss their work and how Comma Press’ Refugee Tales anthologies transports you into the refugees experiences, and create spaces in which the stories of those who have been detained can be safely heard.
Date: May 25, 2021
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Critically acclaimed writer Walter Mosley returns with the next instalment of his infamous detective Easy Rawlin’s series, Blood Grove. Set against the social and political upheaval of the late 1960’s, this “dazzling” and “incomparable” return shows Moseley is still at the top of his game.
Date: May 25, 2021
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Date: May 26, 2021
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Jeff Young and Tony Wailey are pioneering new ways of life writing and memoirs, creating innovative approaches to writing history and personal testimony. Find out the different ways they approached their two life writing books, Ghost Town and Diary of the Smyth-Wailey’s and get tips on how you too can create an accessible entertaining approach to your life writing.
Date: May 26, 2021
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Joinedupwriting, an exuberant new collection from Roger McGough, one of Britain’s best-loved poets, ranges from forgotten friendships, the idiosyncrasies of family life, to the trauma of war and contemporary global politics. Joined by Bard of Barnsley, Ian McMillan and musician and comedian Luke Carver Goss. In partnership with St. George’s Hall Charitable Trust.
Date: May 26, 2021
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Mandrake Petals and Scattered Feathers, a unique, multi-media experience combining narrative, song and puppets with errie and atmospheric images, is a collection of dark folk-psych stories from author and poet, Dave Ward. Production by NBE with music from Amber Jones-Williams and Caine Jones-Williams.
Date: May 27, 2021
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Is fascism back on the agenda, or are the right-wing groups that stormed the US Capitol Hill just the dying embers of white supremacism? Join award-winning journalists and broadcasters Paul Mason and Gary Younge to discuss the how the far right have risen and how we can combat it.
Date: May 27, 2021
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Date: May 28, 2021
2pm
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The dazzling debut novel from spoken word poet Salena Godden has taken the world by storm. Wolf Willeford, a troubled young writer, is well acquainted with death, but until now hadn't met Death in person - a black, working-class woman who shape-shifts and does her work unseen. Salena will be reading from and discussing Mrs Death Misses Death with Jordan Stephens from the Rizzle Kicks.
Date: May 28, 2021
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Take a walk through Victorian Liverpool with this Walking Tour about the life of washhouse and public bath pioneer Catherine “Kitty” Wilkinson, led by John Maguire. Starting at St George’s Hall by the War memorial, this tour will last around 2 hours.
Date: May 29, 2021
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The tour begins at the Catholic Cathedral, Hope Street and will last around 2 hours. We will be following the UK Government's guidelines on social distancing. Please bring a face covering and we encourage you to bring your own hand sanitiser. We look forward to your cooperation to enable the tour to operate safely.
Date: April 30, 2021
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