John Clare Society events

The John Clare Society

EVENTS




7 June 2009	Langdyke Countryside Trust will have a presence at National Farm Day at Willow Brook Farm, south of Helpston on the Marham-Ufford Road, just opposite the Swaddywell reserve. They will be there with a selection of sheep and they will also be leading conducted walks around the reserve.
20 – 21 June 2009 1 – 6 pm West Deeping, South Lincolnshire	Midsummer Open Gardens and Art Exhibition. 15 or more gardens. Homemade Teas. Stalls. For children: model railway, photo quiz, fantasy flowerpots. £4 admission (children free). In aid of village funds. Details at www.westdeeping.co.uk.

13 – 14 June 2009 Dublin 13 – 14 June 2009 Althorp 9 – 13 July 2009 Epping Forest	The Alliance of Literary Societies AGM weekend is taking place in Dublin – a weekend of walks and talks leading up to Bloomsday, celebrating James Joyce. More detail on the website at www.allianceofliterarysocieties.org.uk. If you are planning to go you need to register. You can download a form at the website. The Althorp Literary festival (www.althorp.com/literary.php) . A local writers’ group will be reading out their poetry and prose – the only group to be booked to do so. Members of the John Clare Trust will be joining forces with the Mental Health Foundation to walk from High Beach Epping to Helpston. For more information contact the John Clare Heritage Centre Manager on 07515288601.
10 – 12 July 2009 Helpston, near Peterborough During the Saturday, the John Clare Cottage will be open to visitors but you have to book. The visits are timed and can only take four people at a time. Please contact the John Clare Trust to book. 18 July, 2009 11 am to 5 pm Salcey Forest, Northants	The John Clare Festival. Friday 10 July 1.30 pm – the midsummer cushion ceremony at Clare’s grave in St Botolphs churchyard. And the awarding of the poetry prizes. 6 pm – a guided walk around Helpston – meet at the Butter Cross. 6.30 pm – a guided walk around Maxey Pitts – an opportunity to experience this wonderful, brand new wetland reserve being created between Maxey and Etton. Meet outside the old Post Office at 6.15 pm. Transport provided. 8 pm – folk music in the Barn at the Exeter Arms. Clare’s Birthday Music and Song Session (7.30 pm to 11 pm). An informal evening – free admission. Only limited space so arrive in good time. Musicians and singers are especially welcome – details 01778 571563 or 07946 758197 or pete@peteshaw.co.uk. 9.30 pm – Glow worm walk. A dusky walk around Barnack Hills and Holes looking for glow worms and bats. Meet outside the old Post Office at 9.30 pm. Saturday 11 July Starts at 9.30 am – coffee and toast in the Botolph’s Barn, behind the church 10 am – Festival opens in the school hall – stalls include the Society sales, booksellers, local tourist offices and exhibitions. Book for the coach tour and the evening performance of Common Ground with the poet and story teller Hugh Lupton and the talented musician Chris Wood. 10.30 am – in the marquee behind the school hall – welcome and introduction to the festival from the Chair of the Society, followed by the AGM. 11.15 am – in the marquee – the President’s Address by Ronald Blythe 12 noon to 1 pm and 1.30 to 2.30 pm – poetry workshops in the scout and guide centre, for children aged 6 to 12 years, led by Keely Mills (teacher and poet laureate of Peterborough) Lunches in the Village Hall. Botolph’s Barn open. Morris Dancers and the Peterborough Folk Dance Society perform. John Clare’s cottage open – but you need to prebook. 2 pm – in the marquee, Who Hung the Moles?, the story of enclosure – an illustrated talk with poetry readings by Richard Keymer and Richard Astle, from the Langdyke Countryside Trust. 3 pm – coach outing – you need a ticket – to Glinton where Clare went to school and Mary Joyce is buried. There will be a short village walk, poetry and song and teas in the church. 3 pm – or take a guided walk around Helpston – meet at the Butter Cross. 3.15 – 4 pm – in the church – read your favourite poem. Teas in the village hall. 5.30 pm – in the church – another chance to read your favourite Clare poem. 7pm in the marquee at the John Clare Primary School, On Common Ground, with poet and storyteller Hugh Lupton and acclaimed musician Chris Wood – tickets £10 and £8 (concessions), available in the school hall. From 7.30 pm onwards, Frumenty perform a selection of music, including songs about Clare, on mandola, mandolin, guitar, banjo and bodhran and vocals, free in the front bar of the Bluebell Inn. Sunday 12 July 11 am – family church service in St Botolphs – focussing on Clare, led by the Revd Ron Ingamells, Vice-Chair of the John Clare Society. Finding Words for the Forest (from tree to word to memory): a day of short walks, with readings of John Clare’s poetry by Patrick Bond; quiet time, to explore personal responses to the forest, and to write; time (in the Stoke Goldington Reading Room), to discuss, share insights, writings. For further details and to book a place, phone Patrick Bond on 07932 141918 or email patrickgpbond@yahoo.co.uk. Cost £12 (conc. £8); £18 couples. Future events planned for 25 July and 31 October at Fineshade Wood and 26 September at Salcey Forest.
10 October, 2009 Helpston church	World Premiere! The John Clare Society presents Over the Style, a cycle of ten poems on Clare’s obsession with Mary Joyce. Given by Gordon Pullin, tenor, whose cd of Clare settings many members have bought. Includes three settings of Clare by George Beckwith, which are on that cd and have proved so popular that they are now published, as well as three Clare settings, by the Irish composer James Wilson.

If you know of any Clare related events taking place, do let Linda Curry know so that they can be included on this page.