Greenwood Press Tel: 01386 446477 Email info@greenwoodpress.co.uk
welcome to greenwood press
independent private publisher of poetry
based in the vale of evesham, worcestershire
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life
The roundabout turns
wherever you get on or off
it is never the same
you cannot stop
there are no sides
no safety rail
only you and the world
enjoy your ride
bob woodroofe
press
Greenwood Press Tel: 01386 446477 Email info@greenwoodpress.co.uk
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about us
Bob Woodroofe was born & bred & still living
in the Vale of Evesham. His work appears
in many poetry magazines & is performed locally.
Inspired by the natural world, the landscape,
local tradition & earth’s mysteries, he attempts
to bring the magic of nature & its healing powers
to a wider audience.
Sue Johnson is a poet, short story writer &
novelist. She is inspired by Nature, fairy tales &
overheard conversations. Her other interests
include reading, walking & yoga. Sue is a Writing
Magazine Creative Writing Tutor & also runs her
own brand of writing workshops.
Greenwood Press Tel: 01386 446477 Email info@greenwoodpress.co.uk
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timeline - publications from greenwood press
2023 - “Four Quarters & more” - Bob’s poetry based around the turning cycle of the year.
2022 - ‘Plum Lines’ - Bob’s 3rd Hardback collection. Poetry from the Vale of Evesham over the years.
2021 - ‘Pathways’ - A 3rd joint collection of paired poems from Sue & Bob about their travels.
2020 - ‘Another Lad of Evesham Vale.’ Bob’s 2nd hardback poetry book with CD of dialect poems.
2019 - To celebrate 25 years publishing new impressions of all Bob’s previous work.
2018 - ‘A Town like Evesham’ - CD of Poems & songs by Sue & Bob with Colin Pitts.
2017 - ‘Journey’ - Sue & Bob’s 2nd joint collection of paired poems about their time together.
- ‘Curious Women’ A poetry collection from Sue.
- ‘Pick of the Crop.’ Bob’s 1st Hardback poetry collection.
2007 - ‘Something Stirred’ Bob’s collection of poems in search of greenness.
2005 - ‘The Writer’s Toolkit,’ Sue’s series of four creative writing booklets & 2 CD’s.
2004 - ‘Tales of Trees,’ Sue & Bob’s 1st joint collection of paired poems about their families.
1993 - Onwards – Bob’s trilogy of poetry collections based on life in the Vale of Evesham.
Greenwood Press Tel: 01386 446477 Email info@greenwoodpress.co.uk
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contact us
To contact Bob or Sue to say hello or if you would like to purchase a book
or CD, please feel free to contact them using the details below:
email:
info@greenwoodpress.co.uk
telephone:
(01386) 446477.
the greenwood press
38, birch avenue
evesham
worcestershire
wr11 1yj
Greenwood Press Tel: 01386 446477 Email info@greenwoodpress.co.uk
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publications
Pathways
Sue Johnson &
Bob Woodroofe
2021
Curious Women
Sue Johnson
2017
Journey
Sue Johnson &
Bob Woodroofe
2017
Pick of the Crop
Bob Woodroofe
2017
Another Lad of
Evesham Vale
Bob Woodroofe
2020
Nature of the Vale
Bob Woodroofe
1993
Tale of Trees
Sue Johnson
& Bob Woodroofe
2004
Spirit of the Vale
Bob Woodroofe
2000
Reflections of the
Vale
Bob Woodroofe
1997
Plum Lines
Bob Woodroofe
2022
Something Stirred
Bob Woodroofe
2007
Four Quarters & more
Bob Woodroofe
2023
Greenwood Press Tel: 01386 446477 Email info@greenwoodpress.co.uk
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Plum Lines
Bob Woodroofe
There are poems that you write that for whatever reason don’t fit into a
themed collection but are nevertheless, I think, worthy of publication.
This is a very diverse collection of such poems gleaned from a variety of
stimuli over the years.
Published April 2022
ISBN 978-0-9957290-6-3 - Hardback
Price £10.00
Postage and packing £ 1.50
Greenwood Press Tel: 01386 446477 Email info@greenwoodpress.co.uk
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Another Lad of Evesham Vale
Bob Woodroofe
Poems about growing up in Evesham, picking fruit & vegetables, working the land.
Evesham’s history and changes over time.
Out & around the Vale and up to the present day.
Published Spring 2020
ISBN 978-0-9957290-4-9 - Paperback
Price £ 6.99
ISBN 978-0-9957290-3-2 - Hardback
Price £12.00 - CD included with hardback book
Postage and packing £ 1.50
Greenwood Press Tel: 01386 446477 Email info@greenwoodpress.co.uk
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Pick of the Crop
Bob Woodroofe
Rural & countryside, Nature, Famous poems, Worcester & the Cathedral,
Evesham & the Vale, Croome Park & Other Inspirations.
Published Autumn 2017
ISBN 978-0-9957290-1-8 - Hardback
Price £7.50
ISBN 978-0-9957290-2-5 - Paperback
Price £5.00
Postage and packing £ 1.50
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Spirit of the Vale
Bob Woodroofe
Poems celebrating the birds and flowers of the countryside around the Vale of
Evesham.
ISBN 978-0-9521165-2-3 - Paperback
Price £4.00
Postage and packing £ 1.50
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Reflections of the Vale
Bob Woodroofe
Inspired by the landscape, people and places of the Vale of Evesham &
beyond.
A snapshot of local life.
ISBN 978-0-9521165-1-6 - Paperback
Price £4.00
Postage and packing £ 1.50
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Nature of the Vale
Bob Woodroofe
A collection celebrating the countryside of the Vale of Evesham through the seasons
of the year.
ISBN 978-0-9521165-0-9 - Paperback
Price £4.00
Postage and packing £ 1.50
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Pathways
Sue Johnson & Bob Woodroofe
We have followed many pathways, both real and imaginary over the years.
They are included here as paired poems arising from the same experience.
Published Summer 2021
ISBN 978-0-9957290-5-6 - Paperback
Price £6.99
Postage and packing £ 1.50
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Journey
Sue Johnson & Bob Woodroofe
“the paths we have taken
the things we have seen
the words we have found
this is our journey”
Published April 2017
ISBN 978-0-9521165-9-2 - Paperback
Price £5.00
Postage and packing £ 1.50
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Tales of Trees
Sue Johnson & Bob Woodroofe
A joint collection of paired poems.
Family trees seen from different perspectives
female/male - art/science.
Two families, two landscapes.
ISBN 978-0-9521165-3-0 - Paperback
Price £4.00
Postage and packing £ 1.50
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Curious Women
Sue Johnson
A collection of women both real and imagined
Published April 2017
ISBN 978-0-9957290-0-1 - Paperback
Price £5.00
Postage and packing £ 1.50
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Something Stirred
Bob Woodroofe
In search of greenness.
An exploration of our awareness of the natural world & the mysteries of our
ancient sites.
ISBN 978-0-9521165-7-8 - Paperback
Price £4.00
Postage and packing £ 1.50
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Four Quarters & more
Poetry from around the year
Bob Woodroofe
A collection of short poems in various formats on a variety of themes
including nature & the elements, life & love, the seasons, inspirations
& amusements.
ISBN 978-09957290-8-7 - Paperback
Price £5.00
Postage and packing £ 1.50
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audio cd’s
A Town Like Evesham
Sue Johnson, Bob
Woodroofe & Colin Pitts
Another Lad of
Evesham Vale
Bob Woodroofe
Greenwood Press Tel: 01386 446477 Email info@greenwoodpress.co.uk
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A Town Like Evesham - CD
Sue Johnson, Bob Woodroofe & Colin Pitts
A collection of poems and songs celebrating Evesham and the Vale.
Audio CD Format
Price £8.00
Postage and packing £ 1.50
Greenwood Press Tel: 01386 446477 Email info@greenwoodpress.co.uk
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Another Lad of Evesham Vale - CD & Book
Bob Woodroofe
Poems in the local dialect ‘Asum grammar’ picking fruit & vegetables,
working the land.
Recorded Spring 2020
Price £12.00 - Hardback book included with CD
Postage and packing £ 1.50
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poems
From “Four Quarters & more” - Silhouette
Spread, splayed, into a slanting sun,
the fishing over the diving done.
Chasing, beating, out of sight,
the reptile being hangs them out.
Through pools of water, pools of light,
the black, black, silent, wings of night.
From “Four Quarters & more” - Besom
The first of trees, lady of the woods,
to sweep and clear the way ahead.
Bound under a witches moon,
with green split withy pliant with charms,
to a stave from the knowledge tree,
with the mercurial intuitive air.
To these three woods blended
add the salve, create the magic
that enables you to fly.
Bob Woodroofe
From “Plum Lines” - Ghost writer
the chairs are out of place
black plastic and shiny chrome
stand on wooden floorboards
walled by wattle and daub
between aged oak beams
the chairs are occupied
except one that stands empty
awaits the ghost of a writer
who sits and watches the rest
as they strive for words
they transfer words to the page
offer up their nascent ideas
share them with the others
rough drafts still to be honed
into the final piece
the ghost writer has no paper
no pen to write with
thoughts flit through the head
thoughts that cannot be said
or they would be afraid
so in despair
the ghost writer rises
silently leaves the room
only the empty chair
and the thoughts remain
Bob Woodroofe
From “Plum Lines” - Reeds
The restless talk of reeds
whispers in the wind.
Heads bent to the breeze,
all aligned the same way,
they flicker in failing light.
The tops purple, stems green,
fade to pale amber,
then darken down, down,
to still darker water,
show the tides rise and fall.
Heard the ‘boom’,
couldn’t spot the bird.
Like the corncrake,
that snake in the grass
rarely to be seen.
Scanned the uniform edge
with our glasses,
searching, searching
for something different,
out of place.
There, there he is,
so still, silent now,
bill pointing skywards.
Given away by immobility
against the swaying reeds.
Bob Woodroofe
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poems
From “Another Lad of Evesham Vale” - Orchard
Walk the rows quietly beneath the trees,
in Spring bedecked with blossoms pink and white.
The fresh greenness of new leaves bursting forth,
a Blackbird serenades from topmost bough.
Summer’s fruits slowly colour and ripen
as I tread softly through drifts of flowers.
Lift to see if ready, pick those that are,
leave the rest to reach their full sweet ripeness.
Come Autumn when the leaves begin to drop,
step gently round fruits fallen to the floor.
Red Admiral drunk on fermented juice,
the drowsy wasp hums inside the hollowed skin.
Winter’s bare branches stark against the sky
as booted now I plod through fallen snow.
The fieldfares peck their fill of frost burned flesh,
but see the buds of leaf and flower swell.
Bob Woodroofe
From “Another Lad of Evesham Vale” - Prunings
Rolled the mass of cuttings up into a huge ball,
pushed it down between the rows of trees,
through the frost crisped grass onto the fire.
Watched the flames take hold, flare up and grow,
warmed frozen fingers round the blaze.
Poured creosote into a quart cider flagon,
screwed the stopper right down tight,
placed the bottle in the glowing ashes.
Ran to roll up the next ball of cuttings
and gingerly pushed it onto the fire.
Sometimes the stopper would unwind slowly,
then suddenly rocket into the air
propelled by a purple tongue of fire.
Sometimes the stopper would hold and hold,
and hold, until the bottle exploded in a sheet of flame.
Glass fizzed and smoked through the cold air,
embedded itself in tree trunks,
as we dived for shelter behind.
Bob Woodroofe