The Hull Area Team of churches are marking World Poetry Day this year with a series of events that will thrill poetry lovers from across the city and the East Riding.
Each congregation will play host to a different talented writer – each bringing their own unique verbal skills to an eager audience.
On Thursday 20th of March Zion URC in Cottingham will play host to Paul Cookson, the poet in residence for the National Football Museum and the “poet laureate” for the rock band Slade. Paul is a veteran performer with dozens of books to his name and a good line in jokes and music too. Paul is well known for his fun, family friendly shows and will definitely bring the laughter with him.
On Friday 21st (World Poetry Day) St Ninian’s & St Andrew’s on Chanterlands Avenue in Hull will explore the complicated legacy of ‘Hull’s Most Famous Librarian’ in an event marking 70 years since the publication of Philip Larkin’s volume ‘The Less Deceived’. Stewart Henderson, a celebrated poet and feted broadcaster will celebrate the Larkin legacy while the evening will also feature young people from Wyke Sixth Form college.
On Saturday 22nd Christ Church in Swanland will welcome Adrian and Bridget Plass who are set to bring an ‘evening of laughter and tears.’ Adrian Plass, the writer of the enormously popular ‘Sacred Diary’ series among a host of other (more recent) books will bring his trademark wit and wisdom as he and Bridget explore a series of stories and poems in this event which may have you rolling in your seats, but won’t leave a dry eye in the house.
Each event will begin at 7pm and tickets are priced at £8/£5 (concessions), tickets will be available on the door or in advance via the ‘Community Events’ tab on the Hull team website: https://www.hullurcchurches.org.uk/peoplesartgallery20.htm
The team minister, Revd Dr Simon Cross, said: “Each of our churches sits in a unique community – the range of poets we’re hosting reflects the variety of people who live in and around the different congregations.”
As well as performing in Zion in the evening Paul Cookson will be leading a poetry workshop in the local high school in the day time, while the World Poetry Day celebration at St Ninian’s & St Andrew’s will feature support from the Philip Larkin Society and the voices of young people from the nearby Wyke Sixth Form college. The event in Swanland is set to be an ecumenical celebration, as members from the other churches in the village join neighbours and friends in enjoying the work of the beloved Christian writer.
Philip Henderson photo credit: John de Garis