Minister of the Month – Steve Goldenberg

Meet our Minister of the Month Steve Goldenberg. Steve has been a volunteering for us since 2013 and is always happy to step in an assist the grumpy Chief (who reluctantly publishes children’s stories in our schools’ workshops) . A great team player, Steve takes things in his stride and never panics under pressure.

Volunteer role:

Story minister and Chief’s Assistant

Lives:

Ealing, West London

Favourite story and why:

Dr Jekyll and Mr Hyde by Robert Louis Stevenson because it is one of the great classic horror stories but it also reflects a philosophical truth about the dual nature of human personality – that people have the capacity to do both good and evil.

Tell us a little bit about yourself:

I am a retired English and Media Studies teacher. I am also a crime novelist and have published three novels, the latest of which is Car Wheels on a Gravel Drive. I live for part of the year in a converted 18th century stone built farm house in the Aveyron in South-West France.

Why did you decide to volunteer with Ministry of Stories?

I heard it mentioned on an item on the BBC London News so I googled it and thought it sounded perfect for me, enabling to do something that would combine my teaching experience with my novel writing expertise.

Were you nervous about anything before starting?

Not really. The only thing I needed to adapt to was working with predominantly primary age children when my teaching experience had all been in secondary schools.

What has been the best experience of volunteering?

The looks on the children’s faces and their pride when they see their final published stories.

What has been the most unexpected thing about volunteering?

How very varied and interesting all the other volunteers are.

Has volunteering changed anything in your life?

It has helped to make my retirement much more fulfilling and enjoyable and I feel sure it’s added to my life expectancy.

Describe the Ministry of Stories in three words:

Fun, stimulating, unpredictable.