Roy Stannard's Blog

When you think you know it all, ask the next question

Creative writing

  • The Other Half of my Heart

    Christmas is a time the distance that separates people who love one another should magically be made to disappear. There are songs that deal with this theme, but none that really connected with me, so I wrote some lyrics. ‘The Other Half of my Heart’ is the result. My good friend Nigel Black suggested I… Read more

  • God Speed

    A poem in tribute to Gary Speed who died on the 27th November 2011. Read more

  • Alfriston

    A poem about Alfriston, East Sussex for National Poetry Day, with apologies to Jim Webb and Glen Campbell. Read more

  • Southend Pier – still standing, but not standing still.

    When I was a boy I spent hours upon hours on Southend Pier, walking its length, feeling its girth, teasing its claim to be the longest in the world at 1.25 miles.  Its slot machine alleys whispered to me alluringly. Cheap, trashy items like tin rings and shoddy pen knives (that I would have left Read more

  • South Pacific at the Connaught – another reason why we have to save the theatres..

    ‘South Pacific’ by Worthing Musical Comedy Society at The Connaught Theatre 16-21st May 2011 is a perfect reason why the work by the Worthing Theatres Trust to keep all three performance spaces open must succeed. A community show for all in a much loved community theatre. Read more

  • Mean Time

    Where the you meets the me Someone has drawn a line Like a monstrous meridian Snatching mean time from a perfect eternity. Read more

  • A Southend boy visits the Turner Contemporary Gallery at Margate

    The Turner Contemporary, opened on the 16th April this year with the declared intention of re-awakening the faded Victorian splendour of Margate. The Gallery, designed by award-winning British architect David Chipperfield, is spacious with exhibition rooms lit by soft northern light and by super porthole style windows overlooking magnicent Estuary views that drew JMW Turner… Read more

  • Hey, I made a film today

    The days are passing quickly before the political event of the Millenium – the Referendum on the new voting system. Two contemporary characters sit in a clean white office in Hoxton debating the issues of the day. They represent the Zeitgeist. He really wants her vote. She really wants him to disappear. They could be… Read more

  • Why saving theatres is great theatre

    Since Christmas something rather remarkable has been happening in Worthing. Because of the cuts in Central Government spending, the Town has been looking under its moth-eaten bed to see what obsolete pieces of social detritus it can afford to get rid of. The Town Council has decided in its wisdom that Theatre is the defunct… Read more

  • Walter Tull. Why have you never heard of him?

    The 25th March marks a lonely anniversary. There should be parades, bunting, crowds. But there will not be a single Reveille. On that day ninety-three years ago an authentic hero died in the Second Battle of the Somme. A Boys Own hero, a sporting legend who had played for Spurs, a leader of men who… Read more