Delighted to have a poem in the latest edition of Poetry & All That Jazz, run by Barry Smith and Chichester Poetry. I haven’t posted much here recently – I have been a bit under the cosh with work and Portsmouth FC writer in residence stuff (more of that later), but anyway, hope you like the poem
On the NHS’ 75th birthday, rather than going into a long rant – what’s the point? – we all know what the Tories have done to the country in the name of austerity over the last 13 years, and how this has impacted on all our public services, and not just the NHS, I thought I’d re-share this poem I wrote to be displayed in one of the Covid wards at QA Hospital. I hope…
Delighted to have a poem accepted for this year’s Chichester Festival magazine. Thank you Barry Smith for all that you do. The reading is tonight if anyone is interested, though I can’t be there as I’ll be watching Assassins at the CFT. (probably a good thing anyway as I’m having one of my regular periods of self-doubt as to whether my writing is actually any good…do all writers go through this?) I might need to book an…
A quick mention for the Vent Literary Festival on the Isle of Wight. It runs between the 22nd and 25th of July, and this is the second year this festival in Ventnor has run. Details here: https://vfringe.co.uk/events/vent-spoken-and-written-word-2023/?fbclid=IwAR28HlpChMgdvzrxVFcNXhs46jzJ0HmHx5AMEG22-O8TVzNrZTGkBN4-ILc
A quick mention of an event happening in Portsmouth on June 24th. As with Sunday’s post, this information is lifted from a Facebook post. Looks like an excellent event, and for an important cause. Just helping to spread the word. This Iconic location within the heart of the city will be hosting a vibrant event of rappers, poets, musicians and much more exciting entertainment. 432-Nomads and Portsmouth City of Sanctuary will be taking you on…
A quick plug for the Chichester Festival Fringe From their Facebook post… EXCITING POETRY AT CHICHESTER FRINGE! Don’t miss two fantastic and entertaining events. POETRY TAKE-OFF! sees nine poets go head to head to be declared the Bard of the Day on Wed 14 June, 5.30pm, Draper’s Yard, The Hornet, Chichester, PO19 7JG. Poets include Denise Bennett, Pratibha Castle and 7 others. Who will catch your eye? POETRY IN MOTION – ON THE ROAD. Jazz,…
A new poetry competition for 2023 – but be quick – entries close at the end of May The Crysse Morrison Prize for Poetry, from my home town of Frome
The photograph that accompanies this post is of the old railway crossing in Copnor, where a bridge now stands. Apart from large scale slum / post war clearances and rebuilds, many of the changes to city streets are piecemeal. A junction realigned, an old factory knocked down, a local shop converted into a house. My grandmother used to run a general store in Porchester Road, North End. I was born after it was closed, shop…
At a loose end tonight? You could always join me at the latest T’Articulation event, which is free to attend: I’ll be reading, though I haven’t decided what to go with yet. Probably something Pompey related Here’s the blurb The T’Articulation troupe are pleased to invite the well-practised and newly risen, alike, to perform their writings at this friendly event. The theme Stories of the Streets allows for a broad interpretation but will include work…
I’m trying to share events and activities that are happening locally that might be of interest to local writers or would-be writers who don’t have access to Facebook which is where most of them seem to be shared. Here’s an event that might be of interest to some – a day reading and writing poems at Portsmouth Cathedral on June 3rd Follow the link for details https://www.portsmouthcathedral.org.uk/portsmouth-cathedral-events/institute/six-books/23r9fdg8hukj-bg2db-t46lj-yntkr?fbclid=IwAR1ZmEYZjs3bvHgjfQzALJqpq3cCOgZw1wDHp29zCW1RmX3L4g9qfPcDV7s