Poets add voices to writers’ call for immediate Gaza ceasefire
Dozens of poets have added their names to a petition signed by 380 writers from England, Wales, Scotland, Northern Ireland and the Republic of Ireland, calling for an immediate ceasefire in Gaza, and accusing the state of Israel of acts of genocide.
The poets who have signed the petition include Gillian Clarke, Owen Sheers, Clare Shaw, Glyn Maxwell, Kathlen Jamie, Fiona Sampson, David Constanti...
28th May 2025
Farewell to Barry Fantoni, creator of Private Eye’s EJ Thribb
Barry Fantoni, author, cartoonist, jazz musician, and creator of the satirical magazine Private Eye’s poet in residence, EJ Thribb, has died at his home in Turin at the age of 85.
As Wikipedia puts it, Thribb’s poems are “usually about recently deceased famous people, and always begin ‘So, farewe...
22nd May 2025
Surge of sales as Welsh rivers anthology is launched
A publisher that produced a bestselling anthology about the main trunk road through Wales is launching a new collection of poems about Welsh rivers. Editors Sian Northey and Ness Owen, who put togethe...
21st May 2025
‘Lifelong republican’ Henry Normal turns down MBE - and tells his poetry audience why
The popular writer, comedian, poet and film and TV producer Henry Normal is turning down an MBE, he revealed to an audience at Whitley Bay during a performance last night. He made the announcement and...
9th May 2025
Campaign to save Wordsworth home as museum after Rydal Mount goes up for sale
A campaign has been launched to preserve William Wordsworth’s family home at Rydal Mount in the Lake District, as a site of literary heritage. The poet lived there from 1813 to his death in 1850. It i...
4th May 2025