public relation
Whicker’s World Foundation launches new documentary awards at Sheffield Doc Fest
Whicker’s World Foundation launches new documentary
awards at Sheffield Doc Fest
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Three awards worth a total of £100,000
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Supporting authored storytelling in the UK
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First winners to be announced at Sheffield Doc/Fest 2016
Sunday 7th June at Sheffield Doc/Fest: the new Whicker’s World Foundation, whose principle aim is to give a much needed fillip to authored documentary storytelling in the UK, today launches three new documentary filmmaker awards worth a total of £100,000 for the promotion of curiosity in programme making, generously funded by a legacy left by the celebrated broadcast journalist Alan Whicker, who died in 2013. Details of the Whicker’s World Foundation and the awards will be announced by filmmaker Kim Longinotto at a special event at Doc/Fest, following the screening of Whicker’s World: Conflict in Kentucky.
Says Mark Atkin, Acting Festival Director, Sheffield Doc/Fest: “I am very enthused that this foundation aims to encourage authored documentary at a time when TV is becoming increasingly formatted and when most foundations have requirements to promote social issues. This is exactly what the industry needs right now”.
The three awards – the Funding Award (worth £80,000 / £10,000 runner up) to a debut filmmaker under 30 years of age; the Recognition Award (worth £4,000 / £1,000 runner up) to the finest industry newcomer aged 50 years of age or over; and the Best Audio Documentary (worth £4,000 / £1,000) to be awarded at the In The Dark audio festival, also part of Doc/Fest – will be looking for a spirit of inquisitiveness that will leave the viewer wanting more, and tell something new and unexpected about the world.
The panel of judges, chaired by Valerie Kleeman, photographer, programme consultant and Whicker’s partner for more than 40 years, will also be looking for projects that are playful with how the story is told, either breaking new ground, or taking a familiar path to come up with a new style.
The Alan Whicker Foundation consultant, top ranking international TV executive Jane Mote, says: “Whicker’s World opened my eyes to the most amazing stories, people and places. Alan’s unique style and sharp wit was inspirational and I am so excited to be part of creating a Foundation to nurture the future trailblazers for international documentary film-making”.
Jane Ray, the Consultant Artistic Director for the Foundation is a multi-award winning documentary maker and executive producer in radio and television with a journalistic background and nearly 28 years’ service at the BBC. Her awards range from the Sony Award for best news programme (2002) and the TRIC award for best children’s programme (1993) to China’s Golden Kapok award for best director (2014). She worked with Alan throughout the 90s on various projects for radio. She also wrote and directed Radio 4’s archive programme about Alan: Around the World in 80 Years, presented by Michael Palin.
The first award winners will be announced by the Whicker’s World Foundation at the Sheffield Doc/Fest Award Ceremony, which will take place on the final day of the 2016 festival.
Ends
For further information for Whicker’s World Foundation contact:
Siobhan Connor siobhan@connorpr.com
+ 44 (0) 7966 177025
For further information for Sheffield Doc/Fest contact:
Sarah Harvey Publicity
+44 (0) 207 232 2812
+44 (0) 7958 597426
Sarah Harvey sarah@sarahharveypublicity.co.uk
Nikki Cummins nikki@sarahharveypublicity.co.uk
Joe Bond joe@sarahharveypublicity.co.uk
Join the conversation:
facebook.com/whickersworldfoundation
https://twitter.com/whickersworld
About Doc/Fest:
Sheffield Doc/Fest is the UK’s premier documentary and digital media festival. It is the place to see world and UK premieres of the best creative documentaries from the cinema, television and online arenas, and to hear from and meet filmmakers at Q&A sessions. Highlights of the film programme are honoured with an award programme including the Sheffield Grand Jury, Innovation, Environmental, Interactive, Youth Jury, Inspiration, Student Doc, Short Form and Audience Awards. In 2014, 3,263 full festival pass holders attended the Festival and it attracted over 26,700 members of the film-loving public.
Sheffield Doc/Fest 2015 takes place from 5-10 June
Connor PR launching the Whicker’s World Foundation, Connor PR expert in travel PR, Connor PR expert in presenter PR, Connor PR specialist in TV publicity
My Soul Space – Shrewsbury’s only dedicated Hot Yoga Studio launches teacher training courses in the new year
PRESS RELEASE
My Soul Space – Shrewsbury’s only dedicated
Hot Yoga Studio launches teacher training courses in the new year
My Soul Space – Shrewsbury’s only dedicated yoga studio will be rolling out a series of teacher training courses in the new year.
The yoga studio headed up by experienced local teacher Emma Burton will be proving opportunities for people to become yoga instructors.
My Soul Space offers classes six days a week for men, women, young and old in Hot Yoga, Facial Yoga, Vinyasa Flow Yoga, Olit Yoga, Yoga for Teenagers, Pregnancy Yoga and Yoga for Men. Hot Yoga provides a host of physical and mental benefits such as weight loss, back, neck and shoulder pain relief, healing and the prevention of sports injuries, easing depression, anxiety and stress and increasing fitness and stamina.
With their team of six inspirational and uplifting yoga instructors, the studio will be offering opportunities to practising yogi. The courses starting in February 2015 are provided over five days. My Soul Space is offering a Teen Yoga course which will train to teach yoga and mindfulness to 11-18 yr olds. It is now taught in several continents across the world and will run from 16th February to 20th February 2015, 9:30am to 5pm.
The course has been constructed with the help of specialist adolescent Neuroscientists, Anatomists, Psychologists and Yoga Teachers. Teen Yoga Training is registered RYSC with Yoga Alliance UK, demonstrating that the studio has met the stringent requirements set by Yoga Alliance UK as a sign of highest standard.
Charlotta Martinus launched this course for the first time in 2004 in response to the growing need to care for our young people and give them respite from stress and anxiety. This course is unique, as the only fully fledged, Yoga Alliance accredited and insured teen yoga course in the UK working together with Leeds University Psychology Dept, to measure outcomes of the mindfulness and yoga on young people added to the actual experiential research to help support and structure the training course.
The course comes with a detailed and comprehensive manual, with plenty of practical lesson plans and ideas for you to use. In this manual you will find a detailed list of the benefits of yoga and a list of suitable postures for this particular age group, targeting specific issues. There is a special section on behaviour management.
This course qualifies you as a Level 3 Coach, within the Sports Partnership as well as qualifies you to access funding through Sportivate for your classes.
This Hot Yoga conversion qualification is for existing yoga teachers with a 200 hour or equivalent qualification wishing to qualify to teach this very popular Hot Yoga form. The course takes place over a five days from 9th March to 13th March 2015, 10:15am to 5:15pm and will be taught by Jozef Wiewel.
The course is made up of the following three modules:
- Teaching in the Hot environment: Health and Safety considerations, physiological response to the heat, modifications and adaptations for different bodies, access and inclusion.
- The Hot Posture Series: Posture Sequencing, how to teach, what to teach and why are we teaching it?
- How to set up hot yoga classes, and the requirements of setting up a hot yoga studio.
Each module is made up of a mixture of written and practical work. The course is based around the classic 26 posture Hot Series, plus how to develop the sequence practically and professionally.
My Soul Space is a way of life. It is yoga from the inside out. It brings benefits both to the body and mind. Everyone is welcome: from beginners to experienced yogi. The instructors reach out to everyone in the class to support new-comers whilst continuing to challenge more experienced yogi.
Emma Burton fell in love with yoga in her first class. Whilst learning her new practice that day she was inspired by a lady in her 80’s balancing on one leg looking serene. Totally in awe of how she felt after the class and what she had observed, she became fascinated by this practise, travelling the world to discover all she could. Following her own journey she naturally fell into teaching, training in Australia & Switzerland.
With nearly 20 years of practising Yoga and over 14 years of teaching yoga. Yoga has helped her through the arrival of her two gorgeous boys, motherhood and much more. Emma has created My Soul Space for others to start their journey and reep the benefits of Hot Yoga and alike.
ENDS
Notes to editors:
Visit them at www.mysoulspace.co.uk
Join the conversation https://www.facebook.com/mysoulspaceshrewsbury
Contact info@mysoulspace.co.uk or Emma Burton on Tel: 01743 387087 for further information or to book.
My Soul Space
2 Sweetlake Business Park
Mercian Close
Shrewsbury
SY3 9EW
(Opposite the Nuffield hospital)
Emma Burton is available for interview.
For further information, please contact Siobhan@connorpr.com
Tel 07966 177025
www.connorpr.com
Give Up Clothes For Good exhibition by world famous photographer Jason Bell
In celebration of the 10th anniversary of the Give Up Clothes for Good campaign, TK Maxx and Cancer Research UK are hosting an exclusive exhibition of works by world famous photographer Jason Bell. I arrived at the Pall Mall Galleria and was proud to see my PR campaign from 2014s Give Up Clothes for Good campaign on display.
Give Up Clothes For Good encourages donating your old clothes to raise money for children’s cancers.
http://www.express.co.uk/news/showbiz/512015/Jerry-Hall-shows-off-her-youthful-looks-at-Cancer-Research-and-TK-Maxx-charity-launch
Launched in 2004, Give Up Clothes For Good is a biannual campaign based on encouraging people to clear out their wardrobes and donate quality unwanted clothes and household items to raise money for the treatment and cure of childhood cancers. The donated items are collected from TK Maxx stores and later sold across the network of CRUK stores.
I needed to come up with a witty and motivating call to action that encouraged the whole nation to take part in the biggest clothes collection ever. We took the double meaning of ‘Give Up Clothes For Good’ to suggest we all go naked for a good cause. A simple proposition that would guarantee stand out across all media. In order to engage the public and ensure extensive coverage, we set about contacting a host of celebrities to pose for some very tasteful and modest, naked themed shots, playing on the campaign strapline ‘Bare as you Dare’. Celebrities including Jade Jagger, Bruno Tonioli, Liz McLarnon, Sol Campbell, Lucy Benjamin, Julia Bradbury, James Anderson, Christopher Biggins, Kate Walsh all ‘dared to bare’ For the cameras in aid of raising valuable funds for charity and encourage the public to
strip their wardrobes bare too.
Whilst I was confident that images of naked celebrities shot by renowned celebrity photographer Jason Bell would provide us with a compelling news pictures, we also felt that the campaign project merited a pre awareness launch and a series of regional launches around the country that would serve to maximize awareness.
During the pre awareness stage TK Maxx, HomeSense and Cancer Research UK teamed up with online auction site eBay for a celebrity clothing auction. I set about contacting celebrities – Sharon Osbourne, Duffy, David Walliams, Jade Jagger, Tyra Banks, Nicky Hilton, Rupert Grint, Leighton Meester and the Duchess of York are just some of the celebrities who pledged an item. The team got busy selling in to fashion bloggers, showbiz desks and celebrity titles.
A week before the media launch day on April 6th the celebrity images were seeded with Press Association and Heat magazine offered the magazine exclusive. Over the Easter bank holiday weekend, the national picture desks and showbiz desks were spoken to in order to ensure the messaging and campaign credits were correct. National and regional sites were targeted, as well as relevant fashion blogs, entertainment and lifestyle outlets. encourage bag drops.
Local celebrities across six key regions with high regional media density also helped drive awareness. Regional photo-calls took place on launch day with local talent wearing a large Give Up Clothes For Good bag including Paul Potts in Cardiff, TV presenter Amanda Hamilton in Edinburgh, Ex Gladiator in Leeds, BBC Midlands presenter Suzanne Virdee in Birmingham and Orlaith McCallister in Belfast, as well as a photocall in Southampton. The team got busy selling in the pictures to regional targets. Inorder to target the fashion press, we worked with Jade Jagger who carried out interviews for Stylist and Stella. In addition we secured interviews with Bruno Tonilio in OK Magazine, Kate Walsh in Closer.
To keep the momentum going throughout the three week campaign and to encourage bag donations we scheduled regional activity during this time, including ‘naked’ radio drops using two naturists from Living’s ‘Four Weddings’ Fame in the final week.
TK Maxx, HomeSense and CRUK have smashed the 2008 till point donations revealing £258,097.65 worth of donations.
On Monday 5th April, the pictures and press release were issued under embargo to all national and regional newspapers and all major online outlets, supported by an aggressive call round.
The following morning I had secured newspaper coverage within The Sun, Daily Mirror, Metro, Daily Record, Daily Star, Daily Mail, The Times, Daily Telegraph.
The story was also successful in reaching newspaper websites including The Sun Online, Daily Mirror Online, Metro Online, Daily Mail Online, and The Daily Telegraph Online, as well as a fully credited.
Other key outlets secured include BBC Entertainment News, Sky News, Yahoo! and MSN, all crediting TK Maxx, HomeSense and Cancer Research UK. Online coverage continued to mount throughout the day, with stories appearing on online outlets.
The campaign became part of the ‘naked’ zeitgeist and discussions on Radio 4’s Woman’s Hour and articles in the Evening Standard ‘Naked London’ affiliated TK Maxx and CR-UK with the story. As well as TV presenter Kate Walsh talking about the campaign on Live At Studio Five and Liz McClarnon on The Wright Stuff.
Total coverage
149 clips
£582,888 AVE
100,090,554 Circulation
Connor PR working with Middlechild Productions on a TV exclusive – Hercules The Human Bear, Channel Five
HERCULES THE HUMAN BEAR
“Human beings differ to animals only in degree and not in kind”
Charles Darwin, Descent of Man
TX: Channel 5, Thursday April 3rd, 9pm, 2014
Produced by Middlechild Productions
Hercules the Human Bear tells the amazing story of Andy and Maggie Robin and their relationship with a grizzly bear that became the most famous animal in the world. A bear that was bought as a cub from a Scottish zoo for £50 in 1976 and lived in Andy and Maggie’s home for 25 years. Hercules grew to be a superstar on the celebrity circuit and through the love and devotion of Andy and Maggie, in their eyes, became human.
In 1976 Andy and Maggie bought a grizzly bear cub from a local zoo, initially to fulfil Andy’s need for a unique wrestling partner. Little did they know at the time that Hercules, the tiny bear cub, would become the worlds’ most famous bear and make them a fortune in the process.
Hercules the Human Bear focuses on the unique relationship that Andy, Maggie and Hercules forged during their 25 years together. With interviews from Andy and Maggie as well as all the key contributors to their story, the documentary reveals the unique story of how Andy and Maggie managed to live under the same roof as the world’s most dangerous land mammal.
Extraordinary archive film footage reveals Hercules adapting to his new surroundings at the Sheriffmuir Inn and learning to wrestle with Andy, without killing him in the process, to the heart stopping moment he went missing in the Outer Hebrides where the hunt for Hercules turned into National and International news. We see how Hercules begins his road to stardom in adverts for products such as Kleenex and Hofmeister Beer, to how his fame got greater and greater to star in films such as James Bond’s Octopussy, making the front cover of Time magazine and even how he caddied for Bob Hope at a golf tournament. Concluding with a trip to the Outer Hebrides where a life-sized statue of Hercules is unveiled and hearing how Hercules touched the lives of many.
World Champion wrestler, Andy Robin, had performed a wrestling bout in Canada with a feared local wrestler – an 8ft black bear called Terrible Ted. The sheer power and strength of the animal shocked and amazed Andy and he began to admire Ted’s natural wrestling ability. The fight lasted only 20 minutes but Andy was hooked. He wanted a bear of his own no matter what the cost.
Combining the testimony of all the key participants, newly-discovered archival film and dramatic imagery, this is the picaresque story of one grizzly bear’s extraordinary journey through human life and the enduring impact he made on the characters he met along the way.
The anthropomorphism (attribution of human characteristics to anything other than a human being) of animals is centuries old and bears in particular have taken on a unique status in our hearts – from Winnie the Poo, Rupert, Yogi and Paddington Bear in children’s fiction to the use of real bears in television series such as Gentle Ben.
Hercules’ story was the ultimate nature versus nurture tale. With no formal animal training, Andy and Maggie Robin allowed a 9-foot 70-stone grizzly bear to share every inch of their lives, from the house they owned to the food they ate. If the experiment were successful they would go on the most amazing fairy tale of a journey, but if it went wrong, like so many times before and since, they would most probably end up dead, mauled to death by the most deadly land carnivore in the world.
The story of wild nature bending to human kindness and understanding, is a genre whose popularity reflects a yearning for an idealised relationship with nature – one that, even having outgrown the fantasies of childhood, we find it hard to shake off.
Hercules The Human Bear is the embodiment of this call of nature. It’s a unique success story where many have failed; it could well be the ultimate example of nurture overcoming nature.
David Sumnall, Director said: “This is a once in a lifetime story. Sharing your life with a Grizzly Bear like Andy and Maggie did will never be done again. They managed to form a completely unique bond with a very special bear. This was largely thanks to Hercules and Maggies’ incredible nature and the fact that Andy was as much a bear as Hercules was human! For anyone who loves their pets, and thinks they might have some ‘human’ in them – this is a must watch.”
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Media Enquiries
For all media enquiries, please contact Siobhan at Connor PR. siobhan@connorpr.com Tel 07966 177025
Andy and Maggie Robin are available for interview.
Preview discs are available on request.
Notes to editors:
Middlechild Productions is a genuinely independent production company based in London. We specialise in ambitious, factual programmes produced with passion and to the highest standard.
Creative Director – David Sumnall
David set up Middlechild in 2008 with the help of a development deal from Channel 4’s factual and documentary departments. Prior to setting up Middlechild, David developed, directed and produced a variety of programmes for all the major broadcasters including Jonny’s Hotshot’s for BBC1; Engineering Giants for BBC2; Animal Addicts for Channel Four; Victoria Cross Heroes for Five and Football Years for Sky One.
David also recently co-produced the feature film Cleanskin starring Sean Bean for Warner Brothers.
Director of Production – Paul Goodliffe
Paul Goodliffe has over 20 years in Television Production management . He has been Director of Production for Sky Entertainment overseeing SKY’s production teams and outside contractors to manage their multi-million pound production outlay across a variety of formats. In addition, he has also held senior managerial positions at Virgin Media and Channel Five.
Connor PR and Hercules the Human Bear, Connor PR working with Middlechild Productions, Connor PR expert in TV publicity, Media and entertainment specialist Connor PR
Connor PR launches restaurant House of the Rising Sun in Shrewsbury
‘EAST MEETS WEST’ COMES TO SHREWSBURY
WITH THE OFFICIAL LAUNCH OF:
HOUSE OF THE RISING SUN RESTAURANT
ON BUTCHER ROW
Connor PR launches House of the Rising Sun restaurant in Butcher Row, Shrewsbury.
More than 200 people gathered on Tuesday night to celebrate the official launch of a new restaurant, House of the Rising Sun, on Butcher Row. Headed up by entrepreneur Sam Taylor, owner of The Libertine Cocktail Bar and Tea Room, working alongside head chef, Adrian Badland.
The Mayor of Shrewsbury, John Tandy. Celebrity TV chef, Marcus Bean, and Shrewsbury’s business community were among the guests who joined Sam and the patrons of the restaurant on Tuesday evening.
Guests were treated to champagne cocktails and a selection of delicious Pacific Rim canapés as they enjoyed the fusion of global dining in a sumptuous and luxurious atmosphere.
Sam Taylor said “I was overwhelmed by the turn out tonight. I have been focussed on delivering that big city experience in a local town setting, and the feedback from tonight’s event seems to indicate that ambition. Our young team never cease to amaze me with their enthusiasm, attention to detail, and understanding of the importance of top class customer service, so that nobody leaves without having a great dining experience”.
Head chef Adrian Badland added “I’m delighted with the feedback from the fusion dishes my team and I have created over the last four months. We have challenged traditional thinking and worked extremely hard to produce some wonderful taste experiences for our customers. I was particularly delighted to welcome John Tandy the Mayor into the kitchen tonight, who shared his enthusiasm for cooking high quality food with us all!”
Shropshire-born Adrian has worked at numerous award winning restaurants in the West Midlands, and has brought his 20 years’ experience to bear in indulging his passion for creating contemporary dishes distinguished by their unexpected contrasts of flavours and textures.
Media enquiries
Please contact Siobhan at Connor PR Siobhan@connorpr.com
Tel 07966 177025
Photos from the event are available on request
www.hotrs.co.uk
Connor PR launches House of the Rising Sun restaurant, Connor PR expert in event launches, Event PR company Connor PR, Connor PR expert in event launches, Connor PR promoting restaurant PR
Managing MIL perfect reading for families getting through Christmas and the New Year
Publishing specialist Connor PR started working with Kay Rink, author of Managing MIL: You and your Mother-in-Law – for better, or for worse?
Essential reading for Daughters-in-Law, Peridot Press in October 2013
Here’s some of the press we achieved…still more to come out in January!
Mailonline
http://www.dailymail.co.uk/femail/article-2493071/A-manipulator-steamroller-reluctant-gran-Common-mother-law-types-revealed.html
Daily Telegraph
http://www.telegraph.co.uk/women/mother-tongue/10442145/Mother-in-law-The-11-worst-MILs-The-mother-in-laws-you-love-to-hate.html
Independent online – lifestyle
http://www.iol.co.za/lifestyle/people/how-to-manage-your-mother-in-law-1.1610385
Female First
http://www.femalefirst.co.uk/weddings/katy-rink-369751.html
ITV Daybreak
December 23rd, talking about the stresses of Christmas
TV – The Daily Edition – Australia
http://au.tv.yahoo.com/the-daily-edition/video/watch/19971424/in-laws-from-hell/
Shropshire Star
http://www.shropshirestar.com/news/2013/11/15/shrewsbury-launch-for-new-mothers-in-law-book/
BBC World Service
https://www.facebook.com/bbcworldservice/posts/708894369129692
Marie Claire
http://www.marieclaire.co.uk/blogs/545031/how-to-survive-christmas-with-your-mother-in-law.html
Book People
http://www.thebookpeople.co.uk/webapp/wcs/stores/servlet/qs_product_tbp?storeId=10001&catalogId=10051&langId=100&productId=439823
Daily Mirror
http://www.mirror.co.uk/lifestyle/family/christmas-can-you-make-peace-2809235
Netmums
http://netmumsblog.com/2013/11/25/managing-your-mother-in-law/
The Women’s Room Blog
http://www.thewomensroomblog.com/2013/11/25/managing-your-mother-in-law-by-kay-rink/
Family rapp.com
http://www.familyrapp.com/bookclub/managing-mil-you-and-your-mother-in-law-for-better-or-for-worse/
RTE
http://www.rte.ie/radio1/mooney/programmes/2013/1211/492231-mooney-wednesday-december-11th-2013/?clipid=1375422
Connor PR specialist in expert PR, Connor PR specialist in book and publishing PR, Connor PR specialist in entertainment PR
Lovely testimony from the author of Managing MIL: You and your Mother-in-Law – for better, or for worse? Katy Rink
Managing MIL: You and your Mother-in-Law – for better, or for worse? Essential reading for Daughters-in-Law
“I was absolutely blown away by what Siobhan and her team at Connor PR achieved for my book – Managing MIL. With a background in journalism and some good contacts myself, I thought I could handle my own publicity – how wrong I was. The difference between the few ‘hits’ that I was able to achieve, going solo and the absolute storm of publicity that Siobhan managed to unleash was nothing short of a miracle. My book is to feature in nearly every national newspaper – not only as a mentions or small reviews but as big, double-page feature articles, Q&As, first person pieces from me as author. Siobhan grasped the concept immediately and knew exactly the right people to speak to. She produced a tailor-made campaign, in different phases (press, radio, tv) which she continually updated, chasing new leads all the time. I would sing her praises with my last breath!”
Katy Rink – Author of Managing MIL: You and your Mother-in-Law – for better, or for worse? Essential reading for Daughters-in-Law
Peridot Press
Connor PR publishing press, Connor PR book press, Connor PR consumer PR, Connor PR expert PR
Connor PR promoting new book ‘Managing MIL: You and your Mother-in-Law – for better, or for worse?’
Managing MIL: You and your Mother-in-Law – for better, or for worse? Essential reading for Daughters-in-Law
Connor PR is working with author and journalist Katy Rink on her new book
Managing MIL: You and your Mother-in-Law – for better, or for worse?
Essential reading for Daughters-in-Law
from Katy Rink, Peridot Press
Does your mother-in-law drive you to distraction? Are you a desperate daughter-in-law? Who is to blame? It’s hard to know when you’re stuck on the inside.
Journalist Katy Rink looks at the best and worst of this frequently tricky relationship and provides smart advice for keeping your cool, your sanity and your family intact.
How do you survive a weekend with the in-laws? Should you ever go on holiday together? How do you manage a new baby and MIL? What are the dangers of accepting that friend request on Facebook? These are just some of the tricky topics tackled.
The author calls upon the experiences of fellow daughters-in-law in her home town – at secretive get-togethers that came to be known as DIL Club – to illustrate the highs and lows of dealing with his mother.
There are plenty of anecdotes to amuse and entertain, including the DILs who received engine oil, chin hair removal cream and paper knickers as Christmas presents from their MILs; the MIL who provided itemised receipts for ice creams and charged for petrol; and the MIL who greeted news of a pregnancy with “I can’t believe you haven’t had her sterilised yet”.
You can also try and recognise your MIL from a cast of hilarious caricatures including The Apologist, The Snob, The Manipulator and The Social Climber.
But amid the horror stories there are heart-warming tales of when (and how) it all goes right, and when peace breaks out. There is also top advice from leading relationship experts.
This is the book that every daughter-in-law should read. And more than a few mothers-in-law will want to have a nose, too.
Managing MIL will be released by Peridot Press on November 18th
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Notes to editors:
Katy Rink is available for interview. Please contact Siobhan Connor at Connor PR Siobhan@connorpr.com / 07966 177025
About the author Katy Rink
Katy Rink is a national freelance journalist contributing to Telegraph Women, Parenting and Education and Guardian Life & Style.
She came up with the idea for Managing MIL based on a decade of innings with her own, characterful mother-in-law – but was also very interested to know how other women managed this infamously tricky relationship.
“I wanted to know why, when two women essentially want the same thing (the happiness of the son and grandchildren), do they so often find themselves at odds?” Katy said “I was interested to know what other daughters-in-law think; is any relationships really so bad that we should cut MIL off? Is it ever okay to stop trying?
“Is it always best to communicate the way we are feeling, or should we put a brave face on it and sweep all sentiment under the carpet?”
The resulting book is based on interviews with daughters-in-law at secret ‘DIL Clubs’.
“All I had to do was say the magic words ‘mother-in-law’ and retreat into the corner and start scribbling,” said Katy.
Katy graduated from Oxford University in 1998 and worked as a local newspaper journalist, before taking a career break to have her children. She completed an MA in Creative Writing and a law conversion with distinction whilst her boys were still little, briefly considering life as a family barrister – but is now writing again, as a freelance journalist and author.
Connor PR specialist in publishing PR, Connor PR working with author Katy Rink, Connor PR specialist in book PR, Connor PR and Managing MIL: You and your Mother-in-Law – for better, or for worse? Essential reading for Daughters-in-Law
Sooty is victim of Alien Abduction
TV legend Sooty was left devastated when the star of his current stage show – “Sooty in Space” failed to arrive at the theatre.
The Triplod is an 8ft tall, green three legged space alien who travels with scenery and props in the Sooty Tour Lorry. Security guards at Brean Leisure Park Somerset noticed the Lorry had been broken into in the early hours of Saturday morning. Thieves ignored valuable stage equipment and instead made off with the giant alien.
Sooty has asked the public to be on the lookout for the Triplod. He is not dangerous and is only likely to want to engage onlookers in a dance known as The Triplod Stomp.
Police are investigating the alien abduction and are appealing for anyone with information to get in contact.
Sooty, who celebrated his 65th birthday last week, was being comforted by Sweep and Soo – They all declined to comment.
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For more information please contact Siobhan at Connor PR siobhanconnorpr@gmail.com / Tel 07966 177025
Notes to editors:
The Sooty Show transmits weekdays on Citv at 9.10 am
The new series starts in September on itv 1 Sunday morning
Connor PR working with Sam Pooley Wallpaper Project
We love our boobs so much we turned them into wallpaper
– 300 ladies get it off their chest by baring their breasts for wallpaper
– 25% of proceeds of the wallpaper to go to coppafeel website, a breast cancer awareness charity
– Artist Sam Pooley took part in her own topless photo-shoot describing it as “an invigorating experience”. She has posted one of the photographs on her website boobwallpaper website
As the saying goes, a picture paints a thousand words. Likewise, for one Shropshire artist, a wall became an expression of her personality. More than 300 women have been photographed topless as part of a project to create limited-edition wallpaper of women’s breasts.
With a renewed campaign to ban Page 3 models; topless women demanding equal rights on the streets of New York; controversy raging over paparazzi pictures of the Duchess of Cambridge sunbathing semi-nude; and Angelina Jolie revealing she’s had a mastectomy, breasts are very much in the news. This inspired artist Sam Pooley, from Shrewsbury, Shropshire to think about how she feels about her own breasts. Sam did a topless photo shoot in The Quarry, a local park in Shrewsbury town centre – it was both terrifying and liberating.
Sam embarked on a tour of the UK visiting York, London, Bath, Bristol, Northampton, Totnes, Chester & Watford, looking to recruit women to bare breasts of all different shapes, ages and sizes. Sam discovered that the majority of women she photographed didn’t like their breasts. She was inspired to create an artwork that celebrated breasts and in the process, enabled women to feel liberated by the experience and have their self-confidence boosted.
The breast has been an image used in art for many thousands of years, from Stone Age fertility goddesses and classical sculpture to breast-feeding Italian Renaissance Madonna’s and fleshy modern nudes. It has been revered as life-giving, wholesome and liberating. In modern times, photographic images of breasts have become something smutty or rude, while women in many African and South Pacific cultures wander around bare-chested and no-one bats an eyelid.
Sam Pooley says she has been overwhelmed by the response and the inspiring personal stories of many of the volunteers.
“The women in the wallpaper are from all walks of life, from the age of 19 right up to an 82-year-old grandmother.” she said.
“The wallpaper tells so many stories of women who have had mastectomies, breast reductions and enlargements, lifts and tucks, even a professional wet nurse who has breast-fed over 50 children.
“I’ve received some truly inspirational emails from women who’ve had breast cancer and wanted to be part of this campaign. I’m amazed at the stories coming out.”
The final artwork will be unveiled at Miss Pooley’s fine art degree show at Birmingham City University School of Art alongside a soundtrack of some women talking about their breasts. It will be reproduced and sold as limited-edition wallpaper with 25% of proceeds from the sale going towards breast cancer research.
***Sam Pooley is available for interview***
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Notes to editors:
Sam Pooley is available for interview, for any media enquiries please contact Siobhan at ConnorPR Tel 07966 177025 / Siobhan@connorpr.com
Case studies of are available on request.
Sam Pooley Biography
Is an artist and a mother. She lives in Shrewsbury Shropshire. She is studying Fine Art at Birmingham City University School of Art.
Sam has many fingers in many pies. She shares a shop Compost & Gooseberry in The Market Hall Shrewsbury where she sells her art and other Artisans creations. She runs Compost Kids art classes for children of all ages. She is the features editor for Severn Magazine where she has a regular column showcasing local creative talent, she works as a creative consultant and has even been known to design and coordinate events.