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The John Clare Society
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Homepage | Membership | Sales | Events | Officers of the Society | Clare Links | The John Clare Society of North America
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13 May 2008 Moulton, Northampton |
As part of the Moulton Village Festival,
there is a concert by BBC award winning singer/songwriter Chris Wood and Hugh
Lupton. The show tells the story of
John Clare, exploring the ‘porous boundaries between language and place,
madness and exile, love and loss’. At
Moulton School Drama Studio, Moulton, Northampton – at 7.30 pm – tickets £10
and £8 concessions. Tickets on the
door £12 – contact Joanne Blake 01604 847167 or Barry Care on 01604 646818
for more details. |
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17 May 2008 Helpston, near Peterborough |
The annual Helpston Gala – all funds
raised will benefit St Botolph’s Church, Helpston. Stalls, including Bric a Brac, books,
cakes, tombola, plants; sideshows and
amusements; pony rides; fun dog show; children’s fancy dress; church open (live
music and exhibitions); Langdyke Countryside Trust in Botolphs Barn;
refreshments in the village hall; grand draw; barbecue. |
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17 – 18 May 2008 Colt, Swindon |
The Alliance of Literary Societies
annual bash – hosted this year by the Richard Jefferies Society – includes
talks on Jefferies, walks, and a ‘treasure’ hunt – details from l.j.curry@bham.ac.uk |
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31 May 2008 Bury St Edmunds, Suffolk |
In Denston Parish Church,
Bury St Edmunds. Andrew Wilson, a
composer living in Devon, has been commissioned to write a song cycle, called
Clare’s Calendar, as the finale of the annual Denston Festival
Concert. It is a setting of four
Clare poems for soprano (Margaret Cooper), 2 violins (Simon Hewitt Jones and
David Worswick) and organ (Andrew Wilson).
The four poems are Autumn (The Thistledown’s Blowing); Emmonsail’s
Heath in Winter, Spring (Love Lies Beyond the Tomb); and Come We to
the Summer. More details
available from Derek Bailey on db@landseerproductions.com. More information on Andrew Wilson at www.andrew-m-wilson.com. |
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21 June 2008 Peterborough |
Peterborough Choral
Society are planning a performance of Clare Country (a choral setting
of five poems by John Clare: Clock-a-Clay,
Adieu, Night Wind, A Beautiful Sunset in November and Little Trotty
Wagtail by Terence Deadman. Venue
to be confirmed. Contact the Choral
Society for details. |
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28 June 2008 Fineshade Wood, near Stamford |
Day event featuring John Clare’s poetry in
Fineshade Wood, 26th April.
Finding Words for the Forest
takes place on Saturday 26 April in Fineshade Wood (off the A43 south
of Duddington, near Stamford) between 11 am and 4 pm. Led by poet and ex-forest worker, Patrick
Bond, this unique day workshop consists of short walks and readings of John
Clare’s poetry in the forest, together with opportunities to write, to
reflect, to examine Clare’s technique, and to share thoughts and/or
writings. Following the success of
last year’s events, Patrick is putting on four events at Fineshade this year,
to celebrate the seasons. See other
dates below. Contact Patrick on 07932 141918 for
further information, cost and bookings.
Or check his page on Facebook. |
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11 – 13 July 2008 Helpston, Peterborough |
The John Clare Festival. For information on local accommodation,
please click here. |
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Friday |
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1.30 pm |
Midsummer Cushion
Ceremony and presentation of poetry prizes at St Botolphs Church in Helpston |
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6 pm |
A Clare Guided Walk around
Helpston (meet at the Butter Cross in the centre of the village) |
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7.30 pm |
An evening of folk music
at the Exeter Arms barn |
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Saturday |
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10 am |
Stalls open in the John Clare
Primary School – with a chance to buy tickets for the evening event and the
coach trip. |
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10.30 am |
The John Clare Society
AGM takes place in the marquee behind the school. |
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10.55 |
Report from the Trust on the
cottage development – in the marquee |
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11.15 am |
Ronnie Blythe’s Address –
in the marquee. |
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12 noon until 2pm |
An opportunity to browse
the stalls, the exhibitions around the village, etc. There will be folk dancing around the
village, and Botolphs Barn will be open.
Renovation work has now started on the cottage and so that will
unfortunately not be open to visitors. Plenty of food available
in the village. You can get hot and
cold foot at the Blue Bell or Exeter Arms.
Or step back in time for a traditional English country lunch in the
village hall (laid on by the Ladies of the Church) – it could be the best
village lunch you have ever had! |
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2 pm |
POETS AND FIDDLERS: MUSICAL TRADITIONS IN THE POETRY OF CLARE,
HARDY AND BARNES An illustrated talk by Dave Townsend
John Clare, Thomas Hardy and William Barnes are among the most important poets of English rural life, and all make reference to traditional music in their works. In this talk, Dave will explore their differing musical backgrounds and their varying poetic responses to the music of their own community. |
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3 pm |
Coach tour, departing
from outside the School (ticket only) – visiting Glinton, Northborough/Maxey
Mill, with on board commentary (tickets on sale in the morning) |
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3 pm |
For those not taking the
coach tour there will be guided village walks – departing from the butter
cross in the centre of the village. |
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Traditional English teas
will be available in the village hall. |
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5.30 pm |
Poetry readings in St
Botolphs Church – bring along your favourite Clare poem! |
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7 pm – 9 pm |
The Mellstock Band – in
the marquee (by ticket only) |
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More folk music in the
Blue Bell the same evening – with Ock ‘n Dough. To get a taste of their music visit their website at http://www.ockndough.co.uk/ |
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Sunday |
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11 am |
Family service in St
Botolphs – focussing on Clare – led by the Revd Ron Ingamells |
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Pm |
Langdyke Trust activities
in the village – probably Botolphs Barn. Display of Clare items in
the Peterborough Museum. |
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28 August 2008 Fineshade Wood, near
Stamford |
Day event featuring John Clare’s poetry in
Fineshade Wood, 26th April.
Finding Words for the Forest
takes place on Saturday 26 April in Fineshade Wood (off the A43 south
of Duddington, near Stamford) between 11 am and 4 pm. Led by poet and ex-forest worker, Patrick
Bond, this unique day workshop consists of short walks and readings of John
Clare’s poetry in the forest, together with opportunities to write, to
reflect, to examine Clare’s technique, and to share thoughts and/or
writings. Following the success of
last year’s events, Patrick is putting on four events at Fineshade this year,
to celebrate the seasons. See other
dates below. Contact Patrick on 07932 141918 for
further information, cost and bookings.
Or check his page on Facebook. |
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1 November 2008 Fineshade Wood, near
Stamford |
Day event featuring John Clare’s poetry in
Fineshade Wood, 26th April.
Finding Words for the Forest
takes place on Saturday 26 April in Fineshade Wood (off the A43 south
of Duddington, near Stamford) between 11 am and 4 pm. Led by poet and ex-forest worker, Patrick
Bond, this unique day workshop consists of short walks and readings of John
Clare’s poetry in the forest, together with opportunities to write, to
reflect, to examine Clare’s technique, and to share thoughts and/or writings. Following the success of last year’s
events, Patrick is putting on four events at Fineshade this year, to
celebrate the seasons. Contact Patrick on 07932 141918 for
further information, cost and bookings.
Or check his page on Facebook. |
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If you know of any Clare related events taking place, do let Linda Curry know so that they can be included on this page.