A FORMER Black Country teacher has turned his frustrations into art by producing a book of poems about scenarios that irritate him most.

David Atkinson’s book Doing My Head In features a collection of 80 original poems about everyday situations that displease him.

Mr Atkinson, from Maidensbridge Road, Wall Heath, who taught in Dudley schools for 42 years, describes his writing style as “a little bit like Pam Ayres with attitude”.

Poetic ramblings in the 92-page book touch on the old Birmingham Midland Motor Omnibus Co, crown green bowls and the Arley to Stourport raft race - plus a host of other things that have annoyed or warranted comment by the 69-year-old grandfather-of-one.

Brockmoor-born Mr Atkinson said: “The book began looking at situations which tend to make you think ‘Oh no - not that again’ then branched out into poems of faith, travel, childhood, people and places, memories etc. The majority of which are guaranteed to raise a smile.

“It is A4 full colour illustrated – all by me - bar a drawing and several permitted photographs.”

The former barn dance organiser, an old boy of Stourbridge’s King Edward VI Grammar School, has suffered from Parkinson’s disease since 2004 but he says his “philosophy through all this is to keep singing, whistling, soliloquising and smiling”.

He added: “My poetry keeps my brain active and the interest and excitement of being able to publish a book that people want to buy is tremendous.”

He says he has even amassed enough poems for a second book but added: “The problem is deciding which to put in. I must write about two to three weekly.”

Doing My Head In is available to buy on www.amazon.co.uk, priced £18.74.