The Lord Mayor of Manchester has released a new collection of poetry celebrating the city’s culture, creativity and industrial roots.
In a special debut at Manchester Central Library, Councillor Carmine Grimshaw, alongside Stan Chow, who illustrated the book, welcomed visitors and signed several copies of the book for supporters.
Lord Mayor’s Rattlebag of Poems brings together this lifelong creative journey. Warm, humorous and full of Northern heart, the book captures the spirit of Manchester in every line. From proud and powerful reflections to lighter, friendly moments, the collection presents a vibrant snapshot of Mancunian life. The poems are accompanied by striking illustrations from acclaimed Manchester artist Stanley Chow.
Councillor Grimshaw, who grew up in Ancoats in the early 1960s, has always held a deep love for poetry and language. However, his passion was not always encouraged. Over the years, he continued writing privately, using poetry as a personal form of expression, before finding the confidence later in life to share his work more widely.
The book is available from the Manchester Central Library shop for a £5 donation to We Love MCR, the Lord Mayor of Manchester’s chosen charity, with all proceeds supporting community initiatives and tackling inequality across the city.
The Lord Mayor, Councillor Carmine Grimshaw, said:
“Poetry has been with me throughout my life, even when it wasn’t something people expected from a lad growing up in Ancoats. Sharing these poems is my way of giving something back to the city that shaped me. I hope people enjoy the collection, see a bit of themselves in it, and maybe feel inspired to put pen to paper too. Special thanks to Neil MacInnes OBE, Alison Gill from Libraries, Dave Hibbert, Neil Stell from M-four Print, and of course Stan Chow and everyone else who has supported me along this journey.”
