BEACH Buddies is delighted and privileged to have been chosen as one of only four Manx charities to benefit from the sales of a unique new book written by Howard Caine and Valerie Cottle.
Described by the authors as “a collection of extremely silly poetry”, Comic Cuttings and Quirky Quatrains is a collection of poetry from two well known faces in the Isle of Man. Howard Caine is a familiar voice on Manx Radio and frequent stage performer around the Island and Valerie Cottle who has a long history as an acclaimed journalist, newspaper & magazine editor and writer.
They have been friends for some 35 years, since Howard played the part of midshipman Peter Heywood in Valerie’s dramatisation of Mutiny on the Bounty, broadcast by Manx Radio in 1989.Later, Howard was Valerie’s assistant when she was managing editor at Executive Publications where, he was known to address her rather frequently as ‘Mum’, so she was scarcely miffed at all when he departed for a couple of years’ market research in London.
Their book of pomes (this is the correct original spelling) came about very recently, when Valerie and Howard discovered they were both in the habit of writing silly poetry.Valerie is inspired by unlikely, but real, newspaper headlines. And Howard? Well, anything goes. Rather than continuing merely to annoy their friends, they decided to collaborate and raise funds for four Island charities to benefit from the sales.
They chose Beach Buddies, Crossroads, Housing Matters and the Manx Wildlife Trust and Valerie and Howard are “extremely grateful” to the sponsors who have made this publication possible.
The cleverly crafted pomes cover a wide range of subjects and make really entertaining reading – a unique ideal Christmas gift. The diverse range of wacky subjects includes seagulls being taught English on Douglas promenade, saying hello correctly at the Fairy Bridge, penguins getting divorced, air traffic control at Ronaldsway, Manx potholes, flying hippos and the “accidental discovery that scallops love disco lights”!!It’s the perfect Christmas gift.
Publication of the book has been made possible by the generous sponsorship of three local companies – the Fundamentum Property Group, Cowley Groves, and Ramsey Crookall.
The cover design for Comic Cuttings and Quirky Quatrains was donated courtesy of Ruth Sutherland and the illustrations are by courtesy of Peter Hearsey. The book has been printed on the Island by The Copy Shop.
* Copies of Comic Cuttings and Quirky Quatrains are £10 with all proceeds going to the four local charities. Beach Buddies will have copies available at all of our events in the weeks leading up to Christmas. Or they can be ordered via email: bill@beachbuddies.org.im
