Brian W Lavery spent 25 years in various senior roles in journalism before undertaking a first-class joint honours degree (English and Creative Writing) and a doctorate in creative writing at Hull.
His prose includes the books The Luckiest Thirteen (2017) and The Headscarf Revolutionaries (2015), the latter of which gave rise to the song cycle 12 Silk Handkerchiefs written by radical musician Reg Meuross with which Brian toured the UK, backed by Arts Council (England).
The Headscarf Revolutionaries was also featured in the BBC4 documentary, Hull’s Headscarf Heroes (2018) and has been highlighted in two Radio 4 documentaries and two programmes on the BBC World Service.
The book also inspired poetry by Helen Mort and a further musical album from Hull-based songwriter Joe Solo.
The Headscarf Revolutionaries is in development with British director Mark Herman (Brassed Off, Little Voice,Boy in the Striped Pyjamas et al).
Brian has also featured on BBC Radio Four’s Four Thought series.
Planet Publications (Wales) and Obliterati Press have published his short fiction over the years and Other Poetry, About Larkin, Larkin Press and Umber have published his poetry.
In August 2020 Dr Lavery received the City of Kingston upon Hull Lord Mayor’s Civic Crown Award for preserving Hull’s heritage.
He lectures in creative writing and journalism at the University of Leeds Lifelong Learning Centreand is writer-in-residence at Hull Kingston Rovers rugby league club’s charitable trust, where he runs free community writing classes.
