Laying Ghosts
An epidemic explored
It is 2016 and Class Six is in its last year at Netherfield School. To help assess their future education path, the pupils have been given an exercise in historical research. This concentrates on the outbreak of Foot and Mouth Disease, which ravaged Britain in 2001. In the course of their studies, the children learn many things — some good, some bad, some expected, some surprising. Most of all they learn a lot about themselves.
Laying Ghosts is the third book to be published by Valley Writers, a writers' cooperative based in the Deerness Valley in County Durham. Their first two books, Write Up Your Valley (1999) and Monks, Miners and Moonshine (2000) were collections of stories, but Laying Ghosts is truly a collaborative effort. Seven different individuals have worked together on this project, and have managed to achieve a very rare result: a cohesive narrative that has been worked on and improved by everyone.
The project came from a desire among the group to put into words some of the events and experiences arising from the Foot and Mouth epidemic of 2001. No one who lived in a district affected by this catastrophe can easily forget the vision of burning pyres on every horizon, the empty fields, the smell of burnt wool and rotting carcasses. Neither can they forgive the incompetence of officials who were unable to provide guidance to despairing farmers nor to concerned members of the public.
But Valley Writers felt that they should look beyond these events, and see what positive results, if any, had emerged. By setting the novel in the future, and treating the Foot and Mouth epidemic as history, they allowed a new viewpoint to be created. Using the voices of children to discover the past added another dimension to the story, as family relationships brought complexity to historical facts.
As with many difficult projects, there were anxieties at the outset about whether this approach would succeed. Blending seven distinctive writing styles into a credible narrative seemed strange at first, but as the weeks went by and fictional characters came to life, the pace quickened and confidence among the group grew. Imaginary diaries, journals and letters flew from their pens. Valley Writers faced a challenge that would have daunted many, and have succeeded splendidly.
Margaret Lewis
Editor and Project Leader
There are details about how to buy the book at the foot of the page, meanwhile here are some extracts:
Chapter One
The year is 2016 and Class 6 of Netherfield Primary School, County Durham has been set an end of term history project, to research the Foot and Mouth epidemic that affected Britain in 2001. The class teacher, Mrs. Tempest, introduces the project to a group of awkward ten-year-old boys and girls. Leya Hammond is paired with Tim Gilbert and neither is very happy about the prospect —
'Fifteen years ago the farming community in this country was devastated by ... Please try and keep in touch, Jerry ... As I was saying: The farming community was ... What are you doing to that boy's back, Mr. Fletcher? Turn around; let me see. "Hand pump Champion 2016". I suppose that means something filthy in the extreme. Does it, Mr. Fletcher? Of course it does ... Tim, I'm in front of the class, not with those girls outside playing netball! ... To think I could have been an air stewardess on one of those intercontinental passenger jets. The ones that touch the very edge of space.'
'If they only knew that I really got to the last interview,' the teacher thought to herself. 'Why are you smiling, Josie? Can't you imagine me being a lithe young slip of a girl? You can't. Don't ever join the Samaritans, Josie, promise me. I have photos to prove that I was once nine... er, eight stone. That is, until I turned to comfort eating due to coming here every day and gradually having my spirit destroyed. Spell "intercontinental", Tim. That's nearly correct, Tim, only three teensy weensy letters wrong. Well done!'
'Now, I know that some of you would rather be in a nuclear firestorm than listen to me waffle on, but the law insists on you all being educated. Tiresome, isn't it? Spell "project", Jerry... Project with a "g"? How interesting. No, our project will be spelled with a "j". Yes, a project! Please, no clapping or cheering. As I was saying: The British farming community was devastated by ... what, Nicola? ... No, not that funny named disease that killed all the little bunny rabbits ... Yes, Karen? Thank you, God! That's quite correct: The Foot and Mouth epidemic.'
They all liked Mrs. Tempest. She was funny and made lessons interesting. She went on to tell them that they had to be partnered with someone and then go out and interview older people and find out about their personal memories of Foot and Mouth. The project would take a month and there would be prizes given for the best ones, they would also appear in the school magazine. Naturally all the pupils began to pair themselves off with best friends but Miss was having none of that.
'Yes, it would be nice to pair off with one's associates so that you could hang out at the shopping centre all day and do nowt, but life's not like that. Now, girl, boy if possible: Clive with Melissa. Brodie with Jade...'
She went on till she got to Tim. 'Oh, Tim, you can pair with Leya.'
Tim groaned, 'But, Miss, she's at the dentist's.'
The teacher took her glasses off and, while she polished them, said, 'And I thought she'd been kidnapped. Of course she's at the dentist's.
Another, 'But, Miss.'
'Have I got to take my reasonable head off and replace it with Miss Insistence?'
It was no good. He was stuck with Leya.
'Tim! Me with Tim!' Leya shouted on her return to school.
She looked round and found Tim smiling at her from behind his desk. This was the creature that was to destroy her street cred forever. She observed his bright red hair and countless freckles. Freckles! She thought that people would wonder why a beautiful, petite, raven-haired Winona Ryder look-alike (Robbie Barnes from 4B had told her) would have anything to do with 'Mr. Excitement'. She wondered where she could get a T-shirt, which said in big red letters: I'M NOT WITH HIM!
Unfettered Grief
He stood by the window
So close that he was shoulder to shoulder with the darkness of the night
Wanting, wishing, yes even praying, to be wrapped in the soft, indigo blanket that was cloaking his empty pastures
Mocking fires no longer lit the sky
His spirit, cruelly strangled before the last ember lost its glow, lay dead within him.
Then something stirred, shuddered, trembled, and with the force of eruption,
He stood by the window and wept.
Chapter Eleven
Margaret finds a box containing some old correspondence, revealing a totally unexpected side of the crisis.
Dear Julie,
Sorry we missed the wedding but, as you know, the farm was under quarantine due to the Foot and Mouth epidemic. I hear it was a very colourful do. I'm sure Uncle Bob will get over Aunty Rose showing her bloomers. After all, he did so at our wedding.
Have you spoken to my mum since the wedding? Only, she sent us a couple of parcels in the post. The first caused quite a stir at the post office. It was all soggy and lumpy. She'd sent us some wedding cake and a couple of jellies in plastic bags.
Then, yesterday I received the second parcel. It contained a knitted coat for Rex (white with black spots). There's no way I'm taking a Rottweiler out in a coat like that, I'd be the laughing stock of the village. There were also forty pairs of socks and twenty scarves. She and the knitting circle had made them for the cows. Her letter said they were to help the cows from getting Foot and Mouth. I'm very worried about her. After much discussion and plate throwing Linda and I have decided to come home. I think my mum needs looking after.
Your loving cousin,
J.J
Laying Ghosts costs £4.95 plus £1.20 postage and packing (total £6.15).
Special offer: buy Monks, Miners and Moonshine as well as Laying Ghosts for £10.90, which means we pay the postage!
To purchase: send your cheque for the appropriate amount (£6.15 or £10.90) payable to Valley Writers, to 7 Hamilton Row, Waterhouses, County Durham, DH7 9AU.
These prices apply to UK sales only:
for details of worldwide prices.
Last update: 18th June 2004
