Manc 50: Lemn Sissay - The Poetry Junkie

“Manchester had always been glinting on the horizon across the Lancashire plains.” Lemn Sissay, the world-renowned creative, grew up in the small villages of Lancashire, but always felt a magnetic pull drawing him to Manchester. In Manchester, Lemn found not only an oasis away from the deceit that tainted his childhood but discovered an opportunity to meet with fellow creatives that would inspire him to forge a new path for himself. Now a renowned poet, playwright, and speaker, Lemn has helped to shape a city that helped to shape him. As Chancellor of the University of Manchester and Artistic Advisor to the Manchester International Festival, Lemn champions our city and gives back to a community that he loves very much and that loves him back the same. Discover alongside Lisa Morton, the story of Lemn’s resilience and passion, his connection with Greater Manchester and his brilliant value system that continues to act as a compass for all that he does.  Lemn's peers that he shared the stage with also went on to build this city with their work, like Comedian John Thomson and Property Developer Tom Bloxham who have both been on previous episodes of this podcast, find them in our feed Manc 03 and Manc 32. ----- Your host, Lisa Morton, started PR company Roland Dransfield in 1996, one month after the fateful IRA bomb that tore apart the city centre. From that point, the business, and its team members, have been involved in helping to support the creation of Modern Manchester – across regeneration, business, charity, leisure and hospitality, sport and culture.  To celebrate the 24 years that Roland Dransfield has spent creating these bonds, Lisa is gathering together some of her Greater Mancunian ‘family’ and will be exploring how they have created their own purposeful relationships with the best place in the world.  Connect with Lisa and Roland Dransfield: Via Phone: 01612361122 Via our website On Instagram On Twitter  On Spotify  Connect with Lemn: On Twitter On Instagram