Gervase Phinn - SOLD OUT
THE SCHOOL INSPECTOR CALLS!
EVENT FORMAT: TALK
WHEN: Friday, 2nd September | 6pm - 7pm
'Funny, touching and entertaining' (The Daily Express)
Gervase Phinn – comedian, author, poet, broadcaster, lecturer, educational guru, after-dinner speaker and ‘born raconteur’ (the Guardian) is perhaps best known for his best-selling series of Dales books for Penguin and his novels with Hodder. Affectionately dubbed ‘the James Herriot of schools’, his warm-hearted reminiscences about his life as a school inspector in the Yorkshire Dales, have featured heavily on Radio 4 Book of the Week and Book at Bedtime slots. He has written a wide range of academic books, children’s poetry and fiction and in 2004 was voted ‘Speaker of the Year’. In a light-hearted and entertaining way, Gervase talks about his life and his work.
BIOGRAPHY
Gervase Phinn taught in a range of schools for 14 years before becoming an education adviser and school inspector. He is now a freelance lecturer, broadcaster and writer, a consultant for the Open University, Honorary Fellow of St. John's University, Honorary Fellow of Leeds Trinity University, Doctor of Letters (D.Litt) of the University of Leicester, Doctor of Letters (D.Litt) of the University of Hull and the Fellow and Visiting Professor at the University of Teesside. In 2005 the highest academic award of Sheffield Hallam University, Doctor of the University (D.Univ.) was conferred upon him by the Chancellor, Professor Lord Robert Winston. In 2004, Gervase was voted ‘Speaker of the Year’ by the National Society of Speakers Clubs. In 2006 he became President of The School Library Association and is President of the Society of Teachers of Speech and Drama.
Visit Gervase's website.
BIBLIOGRAPHY
Gervase Phinn is probably best known for his best-selling five autobiographical Dales novels with Penguin, as read on Radio 4 Book of the Week. Head Over Heels in the Dales was a Number 1 best-seller. He has just completed his fifth novel from the Little Village School series.
Gervase has published many articles, chapters and books and edited a wide range of poetry and short story collections. His academic texts include Young Readers and their Books, published by David Fulton, Touches of Beauty: Poetry in the Primary School and Reading Matters.
Gervase has also published collections of his own plays, poems, picture books and short stories, including his anthologies of verse Classroom Creatures, It Takes One to Know One, The Day Our Teacher Went Batty and Family Phantoms.
Gervase's books of stories for children, What's the Matter, Royston Knapper? and Royston Knapper: The Return of the Rogue were published by Child's Play and became bestsellers. His picture books Our Cat Cuddles, What I Like and What Am I? are popular additions to the book corner in the infant classrooms.
Television and radio appearances include Esther (BBC One), You and Yours (BBC Radio 4), Book at Bedtime (BBC Radio 4), Book of the Week (BBC Radio 4), The Politics Show (BBC One), The Alan Titchmarsh Show (BBC One), The Book Programme with Mariella Frostrup and Clive James (Sky) and Good Morning Sunday with Aled Jones (BBC Radio 2).
REVIEWS
'A worthy successor to James Herriott, and every bit as endearing' (Alan Titchmarsh)
'One of the most accomplished public speakers of any kind. A natural storyteller, he combines the timing of the professional comedian with palpable warmth and the ability to deliver a message that is more than just a series of jokes' (The Times Educational Supplement)
'Gentle and warm with a wry sense of humour' (The Yorkshire Post)
'He tells a cracking good tale!' (The Times)
Listen to Gervase talks about the books he loves on BBC Radio 4 here.
