As Director of the Philip Larkin Centre he ran major public interview sessions in Hull with writers such as Hilary Mantel, Steven Saylor, Christopher Hampton, Emma Thompson, Irene Sabatini,"Larkin Centre Events Irene Sabatini" (interview). Vimeo. 24 March 2011. University of Hull. Kate Mosse, David Almond, Lachlan Mackinnon, Edna O'Brien. He started the Annual Children's Writing Event in Hull, working first of all with Emma Thompson"Emma Thompson's Big Event for Hull". University of Hull News. 14 May 2010. and the Hull Children's Flood ProjectWalker, M., et al. (2010). "Final project report for ‘Children, Flood and Urban Resilience: Understanding children and young people’s experience and agency in the flood recovery process". Lancaster University, Lancaster UK. and then with David Almond hosted by students of Sidney Smith Schoolhttp://www.yorkshirepost.co.uk/news/top-author-at-writing-event-for-children-1-3389628. and Malorie Blackman, who wrote the introduction to a book of resulting stories by Hull children.When Opposites Attract Retrieved 19 November 2017
