Category: Life Stories

Meet the Author

Vera Waters

Vera Waters is a member of the Society of Authors and has written several books including ‘Half a Rainbow: Insight into Stress’, which was first published in 1990 and ‘Another Cup: An Anthology of Encounters’ (published in 2017). Her books are collections of true stories about people she has met throughout her interesting life and career. As well as writing and speaking to audiences, Vera is a prodigious reader with a collection of over 3,500 books at home.

Vera has kindly answered a few questions for us about books that have entertained and inspired her and her work as an author.

Read the interview here.

With a background in education, Vera’s career and life experience has taken her into many varied areas and situations. Trouble Shooter, Pioneer, an Agent of Change – this is how the Press have described her over the years. From Berlin to Australia and then over 12 years in America where she is billed as an inspirational and motivational speaker or as the Virginians say a ‘Stem-Winder’.

After holding an important senior position in the NHS at a Preston based psychiatric hospital, Vera found herself advising Greater Manchester Police and Lancashire Constabulary. She was the first private counsellor to be retained by a police force and was awarded a rare Home Office Research Grant. She taught police officers of all ranks in 21 forces how to approach people with mental health issues and worked debriefing officers after traumatic events, such as the 1985 Manchester Airport disaster.

Vera’s interesting career and philosophy on life are truly inspiring and her books are filled with fascinating, moving true stories that will resonate or educate.

Read more about Vera and her diverse and fascinating career on her website. Vera’s collection of books are available to borrow now in the Gosall Library or, may be purchased online here.

Meet The Author

Jason Beresford

Jason Beresford is the author of ‘The Fabulous Four Fish Fingers’, ‘Frozen Fish Fingers’ and ‘Fish Fingers vs Nuggets’, three laugh-out-loud books about a gang of superhero kids. He is also, at times, a teacher, bad ukulele player and a man who speaks Japanese with a Coventry accent. Jason is the first author to feature in our Meet the Author Project. He has kindly answered a few questions about books and his work as an author and would like to use this opportunity to say thank you to NHS staff.

Read the interview here.

Before Jason became a children’s author, he worked in television for over 20 years. This included a long stint as a reporter for the Japanese TV company TV Asahi where he helped cover Nelson Mandela’s election as President in South Africa, the Rwandan refugee crisis, conflicts in Syria, Israel and across Europe. Jason also worked for the BBC in Coventry and Newcastle and for Tyne Tees TV where he was sent to join the army, he abseiled off Durham cathedral and he was attacked by a jackdaw that thought it was a dog.

Jason went on to direct two of Britain’s best loved soaps (Emmerdale and Coronation Street) and he produced many other TV shows. His memorable moments include reuniting the last surviving Oompah Loompas, crossing Britain on a lawn mower with John Sergeant and filming the party of the year at David Beckham’s house (even though he spent the whole night stuck in the kitchen.)

Jason lives in Leeds and has two daughters who both think he is quite funny at the moment but he knows this won’t last much longer.

Read here for more information about Jason and his work.

Jason Beresford

Meet the Author

Coming soon: a library project to say thankyou to our hard working front line staff

Our clinical and support staff are working tirelessly to look after an increasing number of patients with serious mental health issues as well as supporting other patients and staff with anxiety and depression brought on or exacerbated by the current Covid-19 pandemic.

As librarians we are helping our staff to find valuable research in order to help them treat patients but also to help clinical leaders to try and predict the increased resources for mental health treatment which will be needed as the pandemic continues through the winter.

We are looking at ways to try to reward and motivate our valuable and brave front line staff, and we are inviting authors to send a message of support, thanks or encouragement, or just to raise a laugh or smile.

If you have a suggestion for an author you would like us to interview please email us at academic.library@lscft.nhs.uk

The Postcard Project

Coronavirus is arguably the biggest challenge of this generation, causing loss and suffering to millions across the world. But the country stands united, despite global isolation on an unprecedented scale. Essential workers have put their own lives at risk to keep the country going and care for those who are suffering.

The postcard project has been set up to help document people’s first hand accounts of the Coronavirus pandemic. Read more about the project here.