Carillon Sonnet and the Sutton Hoo Shepherd's Hut

I am delighted that my poem, 'From the Shepherd's Hut, Sutton Hoo', has been long-listed in the Carillon 'Sonnets for Charity' Competition. Money raised will go to Worldwide Cancer Research. 

We moved to Suffolk nearly five years ago, and during my time here I have much enjoyed looking out for some of the remaining shepherds' huts that grace the by-ways of our region. 

Shepherd's Hut at NT Sutton Hoo, Suffolk, UK

 You will see some of my other East Anglian hut photos here (in my Christmas post, 2015).

Writing Poetry at NT Wicken Fen with Dr Charles Bennett

We spent a wonderful afternoon at NT Wicken Fen Nature Reserve, gathering inspiration for the set task in a stimulating poetry workshop, led by Dr Charles Bennett, the Writer in Residence. 

What could be better on a late summer afternoon than the chance to be immersed in nature and poetry beneath the wide fenland skies? We shared our draft poems at the end before adjourning to the adjacent tea room for a National Trust cream tea.

There were still good numbers of Common Lizards and Emperor dragonflies about. We reflected on a number of sample poems before sharing our own drafts. The two hours passed rapidly and it was soon time to adjourn to the tea room for Earl Grey and a National Trust cream tea. 

Watery reflections: Southern Hawker on the lode

• Evenlode by Charles Bennett
• Previous post ... reading at Winchester Poetry Festival

Event Alert (2): Launch of 'Silver' by Sir Andrew Motion

Bury St Edmunds (Abbey Gardens)

So what happened to Jim Hawkins?

I wonder if you remember turning the pages of Treasure Island by Robert Louis Stevenson as a compelling swashbuckling yarn unfolded in your mind's eye. Former Poet Laureate and founder of the remarkable online Poetry Archive, Sir Andrew Motion, held us spellbound in Bury St Edmunds the other night at the launch of his new novel, Silver, a sequel to Stevenson's classic tale. The new book is published by Jonathan Cape.  

The event took place in the Greene Room at the Theatre Royal, the only surviving Regency Playhouse in the UK, now in the care of the National Trust. I won't write about the launch event itself in any detail in the hope that some of you may be planning to attend one of these evenings yourselves. Suffice to say that it was a joy to hear the poet reading his own words, with fascinating snatches of commentary thrown in along the way. We were riveted by prose pieces from Silver, and were also treated to a selection of Motion's recent poems. It was one of those evenings that left you craving more, and I found myself joining a mounting queue of (adult) would-be treasure seekers at the book signing table.   

• The 'Lighthouse' Stevensons
• Review of Silver in The Guardian by Daisy Hay