Karen Elizabeth Gill Interview

Karen Elizabeth Gill 

Bill Shankly's granddaughter, Karen Gill is the author of 'The Real Bill Shankly', patron for the Spirit of Shankly and AFC Liverpool and Honorary President of Liverpool Football Club Supporters Committee.

We were lucky enough to get an interview with Karen to hear about her personal memories of her grandfather and get her feedback on David Peace's Red Or Dead book, which is being launched in Liverpool on 14th August with WoW.


What are you earliest/Favourite memory of your Grandfather? 
As most of the first 16 years of my life were spent growing up very close to my granddad, obviously I have so many precious memories, but the best memories are of when we stayed overnight and he would tell my sister and I stories about Glenbuck, the mines and wonderful tales about his antics with his brothers and sisters when they were young.

 What inspires you most about him? 
 I think what inspired me and will always inspire me about him his indomitable spirit. He was a fighter and he would never give up until he had achieved his goals, but he was fair and he always respected the opponent, whoever it was.

What do you think was the most important thing he brought into Liverpool Football Club? 
 The most important thing he brought to LFC was his vision. He recognised that there was great potential and he never gave up until he’d realised his dream and built that famous bastion of invincibility. He was literally, the father of LFC.

Why do you think he had such a strong relationship with LFC fans and the people of Liverpool? 
Because they were the same. They shared the same vision. They shared the same passion. They were a match made in heaven…the perfect partnership. 

What do you think his view of the modern game would be? 
He’d be appalled by the obscene wages, he’d be absolutely devastated that the simple folk, who are the backbone of the “glorious game” are being priced out of the whole match experience. Such was my granddad’s enthusiasm and passion; he would have played football and managed his team for absolutely no money whatsoever. That’s how much football meant to him and that is the devotion that is missing today.

Why do you think his legacy and reputation among all football fans has endured for so long?
I think it’s because he was honest, hard-working, fair and passionate. People respect that and the people of Liverpool, not just LFC supporters, are loyal to the people they respect and admire.

How did you feel when you heard David peace was writing a book about your Grandfather (particularly in the light of some of the controversies after the publication of The Damned United about Brian Clough’s controversial time at Leeds?) 
I was so thrilled and excited. I knew what David’s intention was when writing the book and I can honestly say that I had no doubts in my mind at all that he would write the book that my granddad deserved to have written about him.

What are your thoughts on the book? 
It’s epic. It’s intense and it was very emotional for me to read. I was a bit hesitant in the beginning and was worried that I may not be able to “believe” that this character was really my granddad, but I can say that it’s a very convincing portrait. Also, it’s almost a “real” experience. You actually feel as if you’re there battling alongside him and for those very reasons it’s not always easy to read, but it’s definitely worth the effort, in my opinion.

Do you think the book will have an appeal to football fans and other readers outside of Liverpool? 
I really hope so, after all, the admirable qualities and wonderful deeds that he was known for went way beyond the world of football. He inspired so many people and continues to inspire even now, over 30 years after his death. I think role models like that are always appealing.

Tell us your favourite Shankly story / quote. 
 There are just so many of them and even though they’ve been told or quoted so many times, I do love them all. Maybe it would be more appropriate to use one of my favourite quotes from David’s book: “I want everyone to be loyal to each other. To the team and to the club. So everything we do will be for Liverpool Football Club. Not for ourselves. Not as individuals. But for the team….Because loyalty makes strength. And that strength will bring success. I promise you.”

WoW send a huge thanks to Karen for the great response and support with the David Peace event. If you want to get in touch with Karen, follow her on twitter @misshanks

The latest novel by award winning writer David peace (The Damned United, Red Riding Trilogy) hits the bookshelves on 14th August 2013. To celebrate the launch of this fascinating novel exploring the life of legendary LFC manager Bill Shankly, Writing on the Wall welcomes David Peace to Liverpool for a unique reading, book-signing and in-conversation event, hosted by journalist, writer and life-long LFC fan, Brian Reade.

Red or Dead is the story of the rise of Liverpool Football Club and Bill Shankly. And the story of the retirement of Bill Shankly. Of one man and his work. And of the man after that work. A man in two halves. Home and away.

Get your tickets tickets here 

For more information visit the Writing on the Wall website. 

Shankly Competition

What Does Shankly Mean To YOU? 

COMPETITION TIME! 

Writing on the Wall have released an exclusive Twitter competition!

 We want to know what Bill Shankly means to you.

Send us your favourite quote, story, football highlight and we'll chose from the best three twitter responses and award three pairs of free tickets for David Peace's Liverpool launch of his novel 'Red Or Dead'. 

The latest novel by award winning writer David peace (The Damned United, Red Riding Trilogy) hits the bookshelves on 14th August 2013. To celebrate the launch of this fascinating novel exploring the life of legendary LFC manager Bill Shankly, Writing on the Wall welcomes David Peace to Liverpool on Wednesday 14th August for a unique reading, book-signing and in-conversation event, hosted by journalist, writer and life-long LFC fan, Brian Reade.

Red or Dead is the story of the rise of Liverpool Football Club and Bill Shankly. And the story of the retirement of Bill Shankly. Of one man and his work. And of the man after that work. A man in two halves. Home and away. 

Tweet to @wowfest with your 'What Does #Shankly Mean To You?' answer and you could win free tickets to David Peace's Liverpool launch. 

WoW Festival 2013

Under Pressure 2013

It’s been a hectic but amazing six weeks at WoW, beginning on the 23^rd April with the opening of the In Other Words Festival and finishing with an unforgettable night in The Kazimier with 70 year old DJ Derek, playing us out till the early hours. Over the period the WoW Team have staffed 40 events and planed, along with our partners Culture Liverpool a good proportion of the 350 events that featured in the In Other Words program.  

My personal highlights have to include Murder on the Docks at The Bridewell which generated a fascinating discussion between the audience and writers; Kevin Sampson, festival newcomer Denise Mina and Graham Johnson. Melvyn Bragg was a most gracious festival guest who captivated us when he talked at length about his upbringing and his relationship with his mum during the launch of his new novel Grace & Mary. The Anglican Cathedral set a beautiful scene with perfect acoustics for the young poets and lyricists featured in Rhythm and Rap.  Sticks and Stones brought over 100 people to talk about the issues of hate speech and hate crime. The event was such a success that we are already planning an event next year in partnership with the Sophie Lancaster Foundation.

Big thanks and congratulations have to go, not just to the winners of our competitions, but to all entrants of Pulp Idol, Flash: In the Dark and our new Dragon's Pen competition. It’s the showcasing of new work and the involvement of new writers that helps to make the WoW such a unique festival.

Thanks also goes out to our team of WoWsters that helped the events run smoothly, to Refugee Action and Asylum Link our partners who helped to make our Where are you from & What’s your Story? workshop such a huge success, and one of the most significant events of the festival. Thanks also to our funders and sponsors for this year; Arts Council England, Liverpool City Council, the Granada Foundation, Canolfan Ysgrifennu  - Tŷ Newydd Writers’ Centre and the Philharmonic Hall.
And to our audiences, we haven’t crunched the numbers but it’s safe to say that WoW 2013 saw record attendance across the entire month and the most diverse audience to date. THANK YOU!

Madeline Heneghan & the WoW Team

*Guest Blog* - Sue Douglas

Sometimes life throws you a chance that you can’t ignore. ‘What’s Your Story?’ was that chance so I grabbed it and joined the group.  The thing about writing is that I didn’t know where to start. I’ve spent a lifetime writing letters and emails, delivering reports and so on, but they tend to be factual - leaving little or no room for imagination or creativity.   One thing I do know is that whether you like it or not it’s inevitable that as time goes by you become a store-house for the many experiences, sounds and images that make up your life, and suddenly you are someone who needs to shape and share some of those ideas and stories before it’s too late!  But WYS? isn’t necessarily about being older or telling your own story. The age-range of our group is w-i-d-e, the starting-points varied, and I feel refreshed and encouraged by being in such great company.  Paula and the group are taking me down a track that is extending my outlook, developing my ideas and helping me to become more confident about setting down my thoughts and ideas.  Sometimes we laugh and sometimes we cry! It’s fun, cathartic and a great, new learning experience.  Last week I wrote a poem! Whatever next?

Sue Douglas

*Guest Blog* - Helen Windel

Andy started the session today with his tale of a spliff-smoking, scam-scheming nun.  Much laughter.  Eric's poetry then carried us through the maze of life and we were captivated.  And this was before the session had even begun, while our coffee still sat warm in our cups and the chocolate biscuits waited for politeness to subside.
Today we'd be focussing on performance poetry and would get the chance to perform a poem of our own if we wished.  My default setting is to avoid any kind of audience so I shied away when Paula asked for volunteers though almost everyone in the group put themselves forward and Paula's enthusiasm and encouragement had even me considering whether to have a go.

First we looked at some examples of performance style on DVD and it was surprising to realise how the completely disparate performance deliveries from each poet could all engage us and connect us with their words and worlds.  Jackie Kay candidly chatted to us about her adoption experiences from her sofa while John Agard energetically and charismatically reported over a mike his newsflash on all non-native words having a mass walkout from the English dictionary.

Back in the room we connected with the words of the group as one after another people articulated thoughts, feelings, beliefs and most importantly truths the listener could empathise with.  Soulful accounts of loss, a rich and textured slice of Merseyside pride, visions of defiant kites soaring over Otterspool Prom, passionate homage to a doomed pub, heartwrenching reflections on parenthood and a lighthearted take on the innocence of childhood.  Our journey complete, the coffee sat cold and the biscuits were forgotten.  Another excellent session.

Helen Windel 

*Guest Blog* - Andy Green

We'll be putting up guest entries to the blog over the next few weeks from participants of our What's Your Story? project. Our first guest blog is from Andy Green and he discusses his previous experiences with poetry.

School has a lot to answer for; I found myself at the age of 11 being expected to appreciate the poems of Andrew Marvell, and frankly metaphysics wasn't my cup of tea at that age. That precipitated an almost terminal slump in my interest in English in general and pomes in particular. It wasn't until a wonderfully maverick teacher ( notorious for producing for a school  play Aristophanes' 'The Frogs' which so offended the Bishop of Southwark that he walked out - and subsequently sacked for giving us a lesson based on the infamous Oz magazine prosecuted for criminal blasphemy) introduced me to the great war poets and the 1960's poetry scene that I thought there may be something in it after all. That and hearing Under Milk Wood for thew first time.

I'm OK with metaphysics now- but still prefer e.e.cummings. Who can resist a poet who wrote;

'a politician is an arse upon

which everyone has sat except a man'

Poetry was 'hot' then, often linked to the jazz scene and to the arts lab scene. Looking back I was pretty lucky; for example I remember hearing Christopher Logue read on several occasions as well as the Liverpool Poets in their first flush. My local arts lab was run by one D.Bowie, who done quite well for himself in the end.

Enjoying the course; thanks.

Andy G.

Can Writing Be Taught?

In a recent Guardian article, the writer Rachel Cusk explored the rise of creative writing classes and asked the question, ‘Can writing be taught?’ It is a question that polarises opinion.  For example, there are certain writers: the ‘special ones’ who insist that writing cannot be taught. According to these writers, their talent is god-given and you’ve either got it or you ain’t.  This point of view annoys me to say the least.  The exclusivity of it; the sense of entitlement – ‘this is mine, you can’t have it.’
My take on this issue is similar to Rachel Cusk’s and Raymond Carver’s (Great people to share opinions with). I think that encouraging students to think seriously about writing is tremendously helpful.  For anybody who doubts the value of teaching writing, I would urge them to read Raymond Carver’s foreword to John Gardner’s On Becoming A Novelist. ( It is also included as an essay - John Gardner: The Writer As Teacher - in Raymond Carver’s Fires.)  In it, Carver discusses the profound influence that Gardner had on him as a teacher; how he shaped his attitude and values. He also states:

…’It was his experience – and it has been mine, in my role as a teacher of creative writing – that certain aspects of writing can be taught and handed over to other, usually younger writers.  This idea shouldn’t come as a surprise to any person seriously interested in education and the creative act.  Most good or even great conductors, composers, microbiologists, ballerinas, mathematicians, visual artists, astronomers, or fighter pilots, learned their business from older and more accomplished practitioners.  Taking classes in creative writing, like taking classes in pottery or medicine, won’t in itself make anyone a great writer, potter or doctor – it may not even make the person anygood at any of these things.  But Gardner was convinced that it wouldn’t hurt your chances either.’

Of course you may say that Raymond Carver was a naturally gifted writer – he probably would have become a writer anyway, had he not had the good fortune to find himself in John Gardner’s writing class. But without Gardner’s influence, Carver’s writing may have been very different.

Carver also makes the point – a point I agree with, ‘That no teacher or any amount of education can make a writer out of someone who is constitutionally incapable of becoming a writer in the first place’.  But for writers with an aptitude, and a willingness to learn and to think seriously about their craft, then writing classes can be hugely beneficial.

I am currently running a series of free writing workshops called What’s Your Story? and have been impressed by the efforts shown by the participants to incorporate the narrative techniques that we discuss each week.  We did a workshop recently on dialogue and writers who had previously shied away from dialogue – got stuck in with fantastic results.  The classes are – I hope – making the writers think critically about their own work and their own methods of writing.  Which can only be a good thing.

Some of the participants from What’s Your Story? will be blogging in the next few weeks about their experiences on the course.  If you’d like to find out more about what goes on in the sessions check out our guest bloggers to find out all the ins and outs…

Paula Currie