Kelmarsh Tales of Terror

It may have taken a while but finally 

we were able to take our seats 

in amongst the trees with that master of tales

Allan Davies

Occasionally leaves twirled down from branches

landing on the picnic table and forest floor whilst Allan drew us into his world of stories both ancient and strange.

After an alfresco lunch we walked back from the New Covert, and steeling our nerves we ventured into the open side of Kelmarsh Tunnel 

with only the light of glow sticks and the 

eerily beautiful flute playing of our Pied Piper to guide us. 

You can see / hear part of the story here, even in the dark, damp tunnel, we were captivated and on the way back out, buoyed up by the experience we tested out or skills as ghosts and ghouls, making as much noise as we could!

We noticed that the trees and bushes were heavy with berries, more red than green, a sign of the winter to come.

This was our final event on the Brampton Valley Way as part of our On the Right Track project. It's been a walk through the seasons that has brought pleasure and new experiences for all who took part. 

Back to Books would like to thank Awards For All, Canada Council For the Arts, the Northampton and Lamport Railway, Northamptonshire County Council, Word in Edgeways, Kathy Page, Ros Stoddart, Carole Miles, Andrew Rushton and all our walkers, cyclers, readers, makers and writers for making this such a special project.

We are, however, not quite ready to leave the Valley Way behind us, we have a new project planned and funding secured from Northamptonshire Community Foundation and Midlands Co-operative Society Making a Difference Fund, for the creation of a series of mosaic Way Markers to be sited along the route! 

A Tales on the Rails

Our first On the Right Track Story Telling event took place early in December at Northampton and Lamport Railway Station with a party of children from Priory Lower School in Bedford. Carole has worked with the school for seven years and was keen to bring the children out to explore the Northamptonshire countryside. Some of the children were wearing their very first pair of wellies and were soon to discover the delight of puddle jumping.

The first task of the day was to take a brisk walk, there had been rain earlier but barring the odd grey cloud the day way fine and the countryside still looked autumnal rather than wintery

A party of NLRS volunteers were working on the line

Someone found a ladybird hotel and the children decided to take it back to their Bug House at school

Here are some of the things the children asked Carole to photograph

After the walk we headed back to our toasty warm railway carriage

Where Allan began a tale that had everyone in the 

carriage joining in with sound effects and laughter.

Philippa checking her notebook

and playing with sock caterpillars 

Allan Davies

Gordon Titmuss - our Station Master for the day

and a man of many keys!

Just before lunch Carole produced socks and stuffing, pipe cleaners and fluffy pompoms

and everyone made their own caterpillar.

After a bit of a tidying up everyone put on their hats, scarves, gloves and coats the brave the chilly station platform. Before leaving, Philippa told us a fantastic story and many of the children were roped in to help.

You can see a clip of the story here

Thank you to everyone who helped to make it such a special day!

You can find out more about A Word in Edgeways here

Tale in a Teacup by Allan Davies

'When it first appeared some thought it might be an alien ship and were afraid. They watched it closely in case it glowed at night or made peculiar noises, but no-one was abducted, there were no death-rays and hardly any two-headed birds.

Thinking it might be safe after all, greatly daring, they finally ventured inside and were astonished! It was full of knowledge, beauty and light.

Those bold souls who'd stepped over the threshold as soon as it opened simply smiled in welcome.

The most surprising thing they found was that things somehow looked better when they looked at them through the Cube's windows'

A view from the Cube

Allan drawing