This poem was written at an Overspill workshop led by poet John Lindley which the Langley Writers took part in in November 2019. Back from the future Eight immigrants, Indigenous population absent, Writing in refurbished Community centre, Heading for mists of history. Riverside from Merseyside Control Bowlee Park, Control most of overspill. Rest consisting of […]

An Overspill estate called Darnhill: A poem by Katie Haigh
An Overspill Estate called Darnhill Darnhill started out as an overspill, A place for families to make a new home. For me it’s where I went to school, A place my Mum had attended before. My mum grew up on Heap Bridge, When farms and fields were all around. Darnhill did not exist in her […]
Now and Then – Langley
The neighbourhood is dark and dreary, Boarded up houses, people weary. Pensioners with nowhere to go Families just putting on a show. Everyone trying to do their best Living their lives in this great big mess! That’s what I thought before I found Community centres all around. Places of activity Groups for them and for […]
In the same boat – a poem about Langley
We came in 55 from the prefabs What a lovely house! Gardens, indoor toilets and stairs for the first time – we ran up and down them all day long But winter in Langley was freezing No central heating so I’d warm my legs by a stove in the mornings drinking a cup of tea […]

“A Good Community” A poem by Lucy Kilduff
This poem was written for and performed by 14 year old Lucy Kilduff at our Winter Overspill event at The Burnside Centre, Langely on 26th February 2020. A GOOD COMMUNITY A good community is somewhere everyone can shareIt’s a place where people show they careIt’s a place where people go with the flowWhere we all […]
COMMUNITY & HOME: Poems written at Langfield Care Home, Langley.
Community Like a market Wouldn’t go anywhere like that. Too much. Too busy. Looks like a Roman building. Does look Roman, doesn’t it? Like Italy or Spain. Greek or Roman. Two pillars. Flats above a shop Could be noisy. I remember being in Newcastle. I lived near the bridge – the River Tyne. And a […]
COMMUNITY: Poems written at D’Oliveria Court, Langley.
The following poems were written in Darnhill by participants of the Small Things Creative STORY BOX session held in at D’Oliveria Court on 8th May 2019. The sessions used the Overspill theme to share stories of Home and Community with Memory cafe participants who were living with, or caring for someone with, dementia. With thanks […]
HOME AND COMMUNITY: Poems written at Springbank Care Home, Heywood
Not a very nice street I’m the char woman! £5 an hour – that’s cheap! I’m cheap because I help my neighbours. We’ve got a chef – from Nandos – chicken, rice and peas. We once cooked a meal for Gracie Fields. It was years ago now. I used to build tanks. David’s a pilot […]
HOME: Poems written at Woodclough Day Centre
Home I wouldn’t like to live there, if the wind got up you’d blow over! That’d be nice, I’d like a swimming pool I wouldn’t like to pay the electric bill I’d have that grass cut in no time This house would be easy to do the pointing I prefer this cosy cottage I think […]
COMMUNITY: Poems written at Woodclough Day Centre, Langley.
The following poems were written in Langley by participants of the Small Things Creative STORY BOX sessions held in at Woodclough Day Centre on 3rd June 2019. The sessions used the Overspill theme to share stories of Home and Community and participants were living with, or caring for someone with, dementia. Here we are again […]