Speaker: Andy Green is a writer, broadcaster and local history enthusiast, who is actively involved in promoting Warrington’s arts, culture and heritage scene. A self-proclaimed lover of ‘all things Warrington’, Andy served as Chairman of Warrington History Society from 2018 to 2024, making him the longest serving Chair in the Society’s history. Since 2017, he has been co-presenting Radio Warrington’s Culture Show every Thursday evening (repeated on Sunday mornings) interviewing musicians, poets, actors, historians, dancers, painters, curators, local dignitaries, archivists and more. “Everyone has a story to tell”, says Andy, “and helping people to tell their stories, or sharing their work for others to enjoy, is a great privilege.”
Synopsis: An entertaining multi-media talk looking at some of the poetry, prose, rhyme and song inspired by the town of Warrington or written by its townsfolk over the years. Informative and revealing in equal measure, the talk features material from the 16th century to the present day and provides an interesting perspective on the town’s history, as seen through the eyes, pens and music of some of Warrington’s most talented creatives. The talk features Lancashire’s oldest known ballad, words from a woman who in 1779 was described as one of Great Britain’s nine living muses, and extracts from what was, when published, Britain’s longest poem, all of which have firm Warrington connections. It’s not all highfalutin however: beer, rugby league, spousal disagreements, industrial accidents and peep shows all are mentioned.