Liverpool Salon Presents: Practical Utopias
2023-03-02 18:30 - 22:00 (Europe/London) | The Athenaeum Liverpool, Church Alley, Liverpool, L1 3DD, United Kingdom
‘Practical Utopias’ is the latest in a series that takes the theme of utopia as a way of exploring possibilities of building other, better, societies while reflecting on the shortcomings of our own.
Join Kevin Bean, Heather Alcock and Mick Owens to talk about three idiosyncratic practical utopias: the Chartists’ Land Plan, Port Sunlight and the 2012 Olympic Park.
The discussion begins in the nineteenth century, a particularly fertile time for social experimentation in England, with a look at two very different attempts at improving the lives of working men and women in a rapidly industrialising economy: the Chartist Land Plan, with its vision for extending democratic rights to working men and Port Sunlight, one man’s vision for an ideal factory town built in an arcadian and utilitarian form. Coming right up to date, we look at the Olympic Park regeneration as a promised transformation in East London from post-industrial dystopia to family friendly utopia.
Can practical development and planning bear the weight of political visions and dreams of perfection? What compromises have to be made between pragmatism and utopianism or between freedom and social engineering? Are utopian dreams suitable mechanisms for political transformation or distractions from ‘real politics’? Can they deliver all the benefits that they promise or are they always doomed to disappoint?
Speakers
Kevin Bean
Kevin worked as a lecturer in Irish Politics at the Institute of Irish Studies, University of Liverpool for eighteen years and continues to work as a writer and researcher. His interests include the history of British Labour movement and he is the author of The New Politics of Sinn Féin (2007). He writes on British and Irish politics in a variety of magazines, newspapers, and books as well contributing to radio and television discussions on these issues.
Heather Alcock
Heather is a PhD researcher at University of Liverpool, studying the global value of Port Sunlight as a heritage site and influential utopian settlement. Heather has twenty years’ experience in the research, analysis, adaptive use, restoration and sustainable management of listed buildings and conservation areas in the USA and UK. Her current research has supported Port Sunlight’s bid to the United Kingdom’s Tentative List for World Heritage Site inscription.
Mick Owens
Born and bred on the Wirral, Mick worked for the Mayor of London, where he played a senior role in planning and development, including in the preparation for the 2012 London Olympic bid. Now a researcher, writer and lecturer, his new book, Play the Game, captures the drama of the Olympic bid and tells the story of the regeneration in the words of those involved.
The Liverpool Salon has been hosting public discussions around philosophical, political and cultural topics on Merseyside for over seven years. Join us at Liverpool’s historic Athenaeum club for Practical Utopias, the second in a new series of public conversations that take utopia and dystopia as themes for exploring the possibilities of building other, and better, societies, while reflecting on the shortcomings of our own.
The talk is available to Members for £8.00 per person.
Want to continue the conversation over a post-event dinner? The Dining Room will be open for pre-bookings following the event, book your place now via the Concierge (concierge@theathenaeum.org.uk), three-courses are available for £25.00 per person.

Theatre Group Visit—The Beekeeper of Aleppo
2023-03-04 14:30 - 17:00
Theatre Group Visit—The Beekeeper of Aleppo
Saturday 4th March, 2:30pm at the Playhouse Theatre
Due to the proximity of the date no group bookings discounts are available. Please book individually at the Box Office and perhaps meet your friends for a light lunch at the club, or refreshments after. . .
The theatre group is looking to begin regular Saturday matinee visits bookable through the Concierge with discounted tickets available to members. Look out for more news on this very soon!

International Women's Week - Sreepur Village
2023-03-06 11:00 - 15:00
In 1990 Ruby Porter, MBE visited Sreepur Village, which is the only project in Bangladesh offering safe haven and livelihood training to single mothers and their children. Ruby was shocked by the primitive accommodation and conditions of the village where there were 600 children and 100 destitute mothers. At her own expense, she returned with seven suitcases of threads and fabric donated by members of the Merseyside Embroiderers’ Guild. Since that first visit, Ruby has returned to the village 47 times! She has raised money to develop sewing rooms, weaving sheds and to provide vocational training for mothers and girls to work in the local garment industry. Sreepur Village is becoming increasingly well known for empowering mothers and their children; transforming their lives with independence, confidence and dignity, giving them hope for a brighter future. Ruby’s work is now being continued by her daughter Janette.
This fundraising event includes a talk by Ruby’s daughter and Sreepur trustee, Janette Porter. There will also be an exhibition and sale of artworks including textile, embroidery and paintings, a sales table, raffle and a 2-course lunch. £25 per person. To book for this event please contact Dr Michelle King, or liaise with the Concierge.
This event is being co-hosted by the Athenaeum, Liverpool Exchange Rotary Club and Merseyside Expressive Stitchers’ Group (formerly Merseyside Embroiderers’ Guild).

The Alexandrians of Merseyside Annual Dinner
2023-03-10 19:00 - 22:30
Our friends at the Alexandrians of Merseyside have once again kindly extended the invitation to their annual dinner to or members. This year Mrs Hilary Green, local author, will be giving a talk titled ‘Women Agents who worked with the Special Operations Executive during World War II’. Hilary will also have some of her books available for purchase on the night. Bookings are to be made through Mrs Jan Atkinson of The Alexandrians—Alexandrians.liverpool@gmail.com . Tickets includes three course dinner, limited table wine, port and coffee. This dinner is Black Tie.
£50.00 per person.

At The Heart of the City Centre: Liverpool BID Company - Lunch with the Liverpool Exchange Rotary
2023-03-16 12:30 - 15:30
Liverpool City Centre is the economic hub of the whole City Region. The Liverpool Business Improvement District (BID) is a powerful, independent voice representing the interests of a varied community of business organisations. They are committed to working together to ensure that the City Centre continues to progress while providing the best possible trading and working environment for its occupiers. Katie Bentley, Director of Strategic Partnerships and Communications at the BID, will outline how office, retail, leisure and accommodation businesses across the City Centre and wider area benefit from a range of additional services over and above those funded through the rates and council services and will introduce the BID Company’s exciting 2023 plans to attract new investment, support the visitor economy and maintain the public realm.
Athenaeum members and their guests are welcome to attend. We assemble from 12:30 in the servery, with lunch at 1pm and the talk commencing at 2pm. The lunch comprises two courses plus coffee/tea. The cost for lunch is £15-50 per person, payable at the event on account, by cash or a cheque to ‘The Athenaeum’. Bookings can be made through Patricia Torpey of the Liverpool Exchange Rotary, or through the Concierge desk.

Friday Evening Dining, St Patrick’s Day Dinner
2023-03-17 18:30 - 20:00
The dining room is open on Friday evening’s unless otherwise advertised. Book a table between 6:30pm and 8:00pm and start the weekend right with a delectable three course meal at your Club. Join us for a special Irish theme Dining evening to celebrate St Patrick’s Day. Advance booking required, a la carte menu available. £24.00 per person for three courses.

A Tour of Ten—Distilleries of Scotland, Whisky Tasting with Proprietor Ian P. Knowles
2023-03-18 18:00 - 21:00
Join Proprietor and whisky connoisseur Ian Knowles as he takes you on a journey to 10 different Scotland distilleries. You will traverse the whisky cluster classification and taste a whisky from 10 separate locations, all chose for their unique nose and palate. Each whisky will be paired with a spoon full or small parcel of food that has been lovingly crafted with note comparing advise from Ian. Each one chosen to complement each whisky to heighten the experience of this, most loved Gaelic ‘Aqua Vitae’.
This will be the first and hopefully one of many events in the club and once we get a feel for the types of whisky experience that people want to have. Our journey can be composed to suit all travelers…
£45.00 per person

Athenaeum Film Nights Presents Irish Night:
2023-03-22 18:30 - 22:00
The next classic film showing is our customary Irish Night. Attendees will vote on the night on which Irish related film will be shown. All screenings will be preceded by a one-course supper and have an intermission with snacks served during the film.
£15.00 per person.

The Annual Dinner of The Athenaeum
2023-03-24 18:30 - 22:30
Members and guests are invited to attend the premier event in the Club calendar, the Annual Dinner. Join the President, Dr Robert Huxley, for a champagne reception in the Newsroom from 6:30pm before dinner at 7:30pm. We are delighted to welcome Professor Michael Parkinson CBE as principal speaker. A supplementary wine flight with paired wines is available for £15.00.
This event is black-tie.
£50.00 per person, £15.00 wine flight available

New Members Welcome Evening & Newsroom Buffet:
2023-03-31 18:00 - 21:00
On the last Friday of the month we welcome new Proprietors as they sign the historic Share Register. A drinks reception will take place in the Reading Room ahead of the signing at 7:00pm. A buffet of Indian Curry will follow in the Newsroom from 7:30pm. Open to all members, a great opportunity to meet more of your fellow members.
£15.00 per person.

’More Than One Way To Skin A Wombat’, Dinner with The President, Dr Rob Huxley
2023-04-05 18:30 - 22:00
On Wednesday 5th April The President will be hosting a dining evening talking about some interests of his own.
When scientists get old many take an interest in the history of their subject and write about the giants on on whose shoulders their work rests. Expect an introduction to the brave, ingenious and sometimes quirky characters who faced dangers and disasters in their attempts to collect and describe the fauna and flora of the South Seas!
Guests will be gathering in the Newsroom from 6:30pm for a drinks reception ahead of the talk at 7:00pm. Dinner will follow the talk and q&a at approximately 8:00pm.
£30.00 per person

Dinner & Discussion with the Chair & President
2023-04-11 18:00 - 22:00
Open to all Proprietors, this event is an opportunity to dine with the President (Dr Robert Huxley) and Chair (Mrs Carol Madeley), who will update, answer questions and get feedback from the Proprietorship as the Institution progresses through its strategic work. Three course dinner included with table wine.
£20.00 per person

Joint Meeting: Literature Group and Library & Archives Group
2023-04-13 17:30 - 20:30
In April and June we will be having joint meetings of the Literature group and the Library & Archive Group. Both are centered on interesting books from our library and both will take place at 5.30.pm with a two course, reasonably priced, meal afterwards. You will be able to book the meal through the members’ website. You can, of course, come to the talk and not the meal.
The first of these sessions is about T S Eliot’s The Waste Land and the unusual and probably valuable edition we hold in the library. Recently a visiting student examined this book and made an important discovery….Find out more on Thursday 13th April at 5.30.
Supper bookable following the talk, £15.00 per person

Friday Evening Dining, A Taste of Spring
2023-04-14 18:30 - 20:00
As we move into the next season, it seems only appropriate that the next in the ‘Taste of’ series follows suit with the brigade treating us to a banquet of all the tastes of ‘Spring’. Table bookings taken from 6:30pm until 8:00pm
£24.00 per person

The Presidential Quiz
2023-04-20 18:30 - 20:00
Bring your brains and quiz comrades to a special quiz night hosted by the President! Enjoy a light buffet in the Newsroom before working the grey matter! With grand prizes and good company, this is a light hearted evening for all to enjoy.
£10.00 per person

(Almost) St George’s Day Lunch
2023-04-22 12:30 - 15:30
We celebrate St George’s Day a day early with a delicious banquet in the Dining Room. Join us in the Newsroom from 12:30pm for reception drinks before a 4 course lunch including a selection of English cheeses and biscuits. White and red dress encouraged!
£35.50 per person

New Members Welcome Evening & Newsroom Buffet:
2023-04-28 18:00 - 21:00
On the last Friday of the month we welcome new Proprietors as they sign the historic Share Register. A drinks reception will take place in the Reading Room ahead of the signing at 7:00pm. A buffet will follow in the Newsroom from 7:30pm. Open to all members, a great opportunity to meet more of your fellow members.
£15.00 per person.

The Presidential Outing: Dining With Distinction on the East Lancashire Railway
2023-05-31 10:00 - 18:30
Join us for a two-course lunch on this heritage railway steam hauled through the Irwell Valley from Bury Bolton Street Station to Rawtenstall. We will be seated and fed in the polished paneling, luxurious furnishings, and crisp linen of a Pullman Car. “…some of the best fine dining in Manchester, with food to rival the best restaurants in Lancashire”.
Guests should gather in the Newsroom for light refreshments for 10:00am before we will be collected at 10.30 am from close to the Club and driven to Bury to board our train at 12.45 returning to Bury at around 4.00pm . We will allow some time for people to visit the transport museum, have a drink in the renowned Trackside Bar on the station or visit Bury Market for its famous black puddings .We will leave for home around 5.30pm arriving back at the Club around 6.30pm For more information on the ELR see https://www.eastlancsrailway.org.uk/
There are limited spaces available for this outing, with bookings handled on a 1st come 1st served basis. Deadline for bookings is Monday 20th March, at which point your monthly account will be charged for payment. It is not possible to offer refunds for cancellations after this date. The dress code is casual.
£70.00 per person inclusive of meal and travel

Theatre Group - I, Daniel Blake
2023-09-23 14:00 - 18:00
Join the theatre group for an enthralling rendition of the Ken Loach film: I, Daniel Blake.
Tickets from £26, to be collected from the Concierge in advance
Why not visit the club before or after the showing for a bite to eat?

Cheap & Cheerful Lunch
2023-09-27 12:30 - 16:00
It’s all in the name – a light hearted sociable lunch at the Club.
Join us from 12:30pm in the Newsroom for drinks and special wine offers ahead of a two course lunch in the Dining Room at 1:00pm.
Menu
Smoked haddock and leek fishcake
Petite pois, butter sauce
Mixed leaf and parmesan salad
~~~
Lemon meringue trifle

September Social: New Members Evening
2023-09-29 18:00 - 22:00
Join our new President, Dr Paul Burns, and General Manager, Roy Boardman, at our new Social Evening on September 29th from 6:00pm in the Newsroom.
A great way to meet more of your fellow members, guests will be gathering from 6:00pm in the Newsroom with a glass of fizz and nibbles on us!
Light entertainment will be provided during the evening – tbc, and there will also be an opportunity for our new Proprietors to sign their share in the historic 1809 share register.
A buffet will also be available during the evening – prebooking is required to assist with catering.

Drinks Reception : 6:00pm
Signing Ceremony: 6:30pm
Buffet Served: 7:30pm

It is free to attend the reception, the buffet is available for £15.00. Book your place now via the Members’ Area or with the Concierge.

The Literature Group
2023-10-03 14:00 - 15:00
The Literature group meet on the 1st Tuesday of the month at 2:00pm in the Library Reading Room – any alterations will be notified in good time.
At the October meeting we will be talking about our holiday reading – led by the President and facilitator of the Literature group Dr Paul Burns.
There is no need to book for this interest group meeting, simply turn up and enjoy.

The Sketching Club
2023-10-03 18:30 - 20:30
The Sketching group meet on the 1st Tuesday of the month at 6:30pm to sketch portraits. Past models have included those in Tudor, English Civil War and Edwardian costume. It adopts the approach of the well-established Liver Sketching Club where individuals learn through practice rather than instruction. This is an informal club for sketchers of all abilities and experience levels.
At the October meeting Proprietor James Kay will be our life model.
Classes are free of charge, and it is hoped members will model on a rota basis, but this is not essential. Members should bring their own pad, charcoal, pastels, pens and pencils. Beside the Athenaeum is Cass Art, should you need to purchase any of these items.
There is no need to book for this interest group meeting, simply turn up and enjoy.

Athenaeum Film Nights Presents: Laughter in Paradise
2023-10-11 18:30 - 22:30
The first in this year’s series of classic films takes place on Wednesday 11th October, and will feature the 1951 comedy Laughter in Paradise, starring George Cole, Guy Middleton & Fay Compton – with a minor appearance from one Audrey Hepburn.
When famous practical joker Henry Russell dies, he leaves his £200,000 to his four remaining relatives. While ostensibly a very loving act, Henry stipulates that each of the benefactors must complete a series of tasks to receive the money, which begins a series of tricky trials, each more hilarious than the last – nobody said getting rich would be easy, after all.
Guests gather in the Newsroom from 6:30pm ahead of supper at 7:00pm. The cinema will then open in the Wine Servery at 8:00pm. Sweets and treats will of course be served in the interval!
Book your place now via the Members’ Area or through the Concierge.
Wednesday evening’s at 6:30pm
11th October – Laughter in Paradise (1951)
15th November – Major Barbara (1941)
13th December – It Happened on 5th Avenue (1947)
17th January – Murder She Said (1961)
21st February – Hobson’s Choice (1954)
20th March – Irish Film Night! (Audience choice of three)
17th April – The Gay Divorcee ( 1934)

Friday Evening Dining
2023-10-13 18:00 - 20:00
At least once a month the Club hosts Friday Evening Dining, where the Dining Room is open to members on a Friday Evening.
Typically this will take place on the first Friday of the month, though where this is not possible it will be moved to another Friday.

The Dining Room will be open from 6:00pm for table bookings with slots every 15 minutes until 8:00pm. If you would like to join our Club table, which dines at 7:30pm, please stipulate this when booking.
You can book for Friday Evening Dining now via the Members’ Area or through the Concierge.

Theatre Group Visit: TONY!
2023-10-14 14:00 - 16:30
The Theatre Group’s next outing is a visit to the Playhouse on October 14th to watch the Tony Blair Rock Opera – TONY!
Tickets are available from £26, to be collected from the Concierge in advance
Why not visit the club before or after the showing for a bite to eat?
Book you place now by 23rd September through the Members’ Area or via the Concierge.

‘Look anyone will tell you, I’m a pretty straight sort of guy.’
Tony Blair
A reckless reappraisal of the life of former Ugly Rumours front man and Britain’s first pop Prime Minister Tony Blair.
The story of how one man went from peace-loving, long-haired hippy and would-be pop star to warmongering multimillionaire in just a couple of decades. Throw in a stellar cast of larger-than-life characters – Cherie Blair, Princess Diana, John Prescott, Peter Mandelson, Alastair Campbell, Osama bin Laden, George W Bush, Saddam Hussein and Gordon Brown – it’s Yes, Minister meets The Rocky Horror Show! and a musical like no other.
A hilarious musical tragedy of political intrigue, religion, power, and romance; this rip-roaring new musical by Harry Hill and Steve Brown received critical acclaim following a sold-out run at the Park Theatre in London.
www.tonyblairrockopera.co.uk

Liverpool Book Club: Bodies In The Library - An Evening With Margaret Murphy
2023-10-18 18:30 - 20:30
The Exchange: Bodies In The Library – An Evening with Margaret Murphy – Oct 18th 2023
Join us for the first of two events this month celebrating Liverpool authors who have found national and international success. Margaret Murphy will entertain you with her stories of a life of crime – as an award-winning writer of crime and thriller fiction.
Margaret’s novels have garnered critical acclaim on both sides of the Atlantic. She is a past Chair of the Crime Writers’ Association and Chair of the CWA Debut Dagger. She has been a contributor to both BBC Radio Merseyside’s Drive Time and Radio 4’s The Message.
Tickets to the talk are available for £7.00, a dinner is also available post talk for an additional £25.00 for three courses.

Hosted by The Liverpool Book Club.
Arrivals from 6:30pm
Event Commences: 7:00pm
Audience Q&A : 7:30pm
Book Sales & Signing: 8:00pm
Dinner: 8:30pm

Menu

Starter
French Onion Soup
Cheese Croute
-oo0oo-
Main Course
Ox Cheek Bourguignon
Garlic and parsley mash, brioche crumb
French Beans
Mushroom Bourguignon (V)

-ooOoo-
Dessert
Peach Pavlova

This month marks the first of a new detective thriller series by award-winning writer Margaret Murphy, published under the pen name M.K. Murphy. The novel, described as ‘a compulsive thriller’ by bestseller Ann Cleeves, has been optioned for television.
Over almost three decades, the Liverpool born author has written 12 internationally-acclaimed psychological suspense novels under her own name, and 5 forensic thrillers as Ashley Dyer and AD Garrett.
Margaret will be in conversation with Professor Catherine Cole, Professor in Creative Writing in The Screen School, Liverpool John Moores University. They will talk about how Margaret’s passion for research has sustained her career through turbulent times in publishing. This includes spending time in the US Midwest with cops, CSIs, cold case detectives and a forensic anthropologist researching one of her forensic thrillers. But research has its perils. She’s been threatened with arrest by Manchester police, briefly gained the unwanted attention of a drugs gang, and was infamously kicked out of a psychotherapy open day as a spy!
Professor Cole and Margaret will also discuss the influences that have inspired Margaret’s range of writing styles, the importance of resilience as a writer and the power of reinvention.
Continue the conversation in the Athenaeum’s dining room over a three course meal. This can be booked separately from the talk and details will be sent with your confirmation email.
About Margaret Murphy
Margaret’s work has been published in the UK and across North America, as well as in translation in nine countries. She is a past Chair of the Crime Writers Association (CWA), a former RLF Fellow and Reading Round Lector, and founder of Murder Squad. A Short Story Dagger, HRF Keating, and CWA Red Herring award winner, has also been shortlisted for the ‘First Blood’ critics award and the CWA Dagger in the Library.
About Professor Catherine Cole
Catherine Cole is Professor in Creative Writing in The Screen School. She has published 4 novels, and her non-fiction includes Private Dicks and Feisty Chicks: An Interrogation of Crime Fiction (Curtin University Press, 1996). She is a peer reviewer for the Literature Board of the Australian Council for the Arts, a regular book reviewer, participant in Australian and international writers’ festivals and a judge of major national book awards. Catherine’s research interests include Creative Writing and Crime Fiction and True Crime.

Philip Whitfield: The Art of Conversation
2023-10-20 12:00 - 14:30
The Athenæum is an enlightened place for conversation. But, as Oscar Wilde said, conversation about the weather is the last refuge of the unimaginative. We’ll explore how to have worthy conversations among members, friends and family?
Proprietor Philip Whitfield will be hosting a talk, discussion and Lunch on Friday 20th October entitled ‘The Art of Conversation’.
Full Details to follow.

Talk: 12:00pm in the Library Reading Room
Lunch: 1:00pm in the Newsroom

Tickets available for £13.00, including soup & sandwich lunch post event.

Theatre Group Visit: Frantic Assembly
2023-10-21 14:00 - 16:30
The Theatre Group’s next outing is a visit to the Playhouse on Saturday 21st October to watch the Frantic Assembly: Metamorphosis
Tickets are available from £26, to be collected from the Concierge in advance
Why not visit the club before or after the showing for a bite to eat?
Book you place now by 30th September through the Members’ Area or via the Concierge.
Kafka’s
Metamorphosis
Adapted by Lemn Sissay OBE. Directed by Scott Graham.
One morning Gregor Samsa awakes to find himself changed. To those around him he is dangerous, untouchable vermin. Worse than that, he is a burden.
A word said, an action out of place, the opening of old wounds, none of which can be undone. Until now Gregor has woken every morning, quietly left to take the same train, and worked to pay off the family debt. But that world explodes on this morning of brutal metamorphosis.
In their first commission since 2019, Frantic Assembly and Lemn Sissay OBE collaborate on this thrilling new adaptation of Metamorphosis. Combining the fluidity and lyricism of Lemn Sissay’s adaptation and Frantic’s uncompromising physicality, this promises to be an unmissable retelling of Franz Kafka’s shocking tale of cruelty and kindness; a visceral and vital depiction of humans struggling within a system that crushes them under its heel.

Liverpool Book Club: An Evening with Ramsey Campbell
2023-10-25 18:30 - 20:30
The Exchange in association with Liverpool Book Club & Liverpool John Moores University present an evening with author Ramsey Campbell.
Tickets to the talk are available for £7.00, a dinner is also available post talk for an additional £25.00 for three courses.
Book your places now via the Members’ Area or through the Concierge.
Hosted by The Liverpool Book Club.

Arrivals from 6:30pm
Event Commences: 7:00pm
Audience Q&A : 7:30pm
Book Sales & Signing: 8:00pm
Dinner: 8:30pm

Born in Liverpool, Ramsey has lived all of his life on Merseyside and as a writer, editor and critic, he has been a creative force for over 50 years. He is described as ‘Britain’s most respected living horror writer’ in The Oxford Companion to English Literature and best-selling author Stephen King has said he is: “literate in a field that has attracted many comic book intellects, cool in a field that tends toward panting melodrama…fluid in a field where many of the best practitioners fall prey to cant.”
A precocious intellect, Ramsey was reading at two and dabbling in writing by the age of seven. It was an apparently innocuous children’s tale which first peaked his interest in horror fiction. In a Guardian interview, Ramsey explained how a Rupert Bear story called Rupert’s Christmas Tree had an unexpected effect on him. He said: “Rupert acquires a magical tree that decamps after the festivities and returns to its home in the woods…the details – the small high voice from the tree, the creaking that Rupert hears in the night, the trail of earth he follows from the tub in his house, above all the prancing silhouette that inclines towards him, the star it has in place of a head – are surely the stuff of adult supernatural fiction. I think I got my start in the field right there.”
Two key people are credited with nurturing Ramsey’s early fascination with writing – his mother and his English tutor at St Edward’s College, West Derby. His teacher, Brother Kelly, regularly asked him to read his stories to the class and Ramsey’s mother Nora, who herself had short stories published in writer’s magazines, encouraged him early on to send his work to publishers.
Aged only 11 Ramsey submitted his first collection Ghostly Tales to a range of publishers and although it was rejected, a letter which stated: “We don’t publish ghost stories, but this is a promising start,” encouraged him to keep writing, and Ramsey continued to avidly consume the work of Lovecraft, Bierce, Kafka and the cinema of film noir.
On leaving school at 16, Ramsey worked in the Inland Revenue but continued to write in his free time, selling several of his early stories to editor August Derleth, who went on to become a friend and mentor. At the suggestion of Derleth, Ramsey rewrote many of his earliest stories, moving their settings from Massachusetts to the fictional Brichester, imagined to be near the River Severn in Gloucestershire. This change of locales led to Campbell’s first professional published work, the story, The Church in High Street in 1962 and the book, The Inhabitant of the Lake and Less Welcome Tenants in 1964.
Ramsey left the tax office to work in Liverpool public libraries, becoming a full time writer in 1973 after the publication of Demons by Daylight. His second hardcover collection of horror stories, The Height of the Scream, was published in 1976 as well as his first novel, The Doll Who Ate His Mother, which he now recalls had mixed reviews but has rarely been out of print since. Just three years later this was followed by The Face that Must Die, which is still considered by many critics to be one of Campbell’s finest works.
From that point onwards Ramsey published numerous novels and short story collections, with hardly a year between publications. The majority of his work has been nominated for and has won major awards, leading to him becoming one of the world’s most decorated horror writers. He has won four World Fantasy Awards, ten British Fantasy Awards, three Bram Stoker Awards, and the Horror Writers’ Association’s Lifetime Achievement Award.
His passion for writing shows no sign of abating, with Ramsey continuing to write in a contemporary style with modern day references. He frequently sets his tales on Merseyside and has drawn on local history and traditions – a book of short stories and ten novels to date.
Ramsey comments that, contrary to what might be expected, the older he gets the more appealing he finds terror, saying: “Being made to feel by art is surely no bad thing – to be scared any more than to be made to weep or indeed to be amused out of one’s wits. It’s a way of engaging the imagination, and a good deal is right with that.”
